BV  652  .L42  1922 

Leach,  William  Herman,  1888 

How  to  make  the  church  go 


U.:C, 


HOW  TO  MAKE 
THE  CHURCH  GO 

WILLIAM  H.  LEACH 


HOW  TO  MAKE 
THE  CHURCH  GO 

A  Desk  Manual  for  the  Every  Day  Use 
of  the  Modern  Minister  Executive 

BY 

WILLIAM  H.  IeACH 


NEW  '^SJf^  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,    1922, 
BY  GEORGE  H.   DORAN   COMPANY 


HOW  TO  MAKE  THE  CHURCH  GO.     II 


PRINTED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


TO  ONE  WHOSE  UNSELFISH  TUTORAGE  TAUGHT 
ME  TO  APPRECIATE  THE  VALUE  OF  HUMAN  CONTACTS 

The  Rev.  G.  CHAPMAN  JONES,  ll.d. 

I  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 
I 

Introductory :  The  Minister  as  an  Ex- 

PAGE 

ecutive        

II 

II 

Forces  Which  Move  Men    . 

20 

III 

Forces    Which     Move     Men     (Con- 

tinued)      ...... 

30 

IV 

The  Church  Office       .... 

39 

V 

The  Minister  and  His  Official  Board 

51 

VI 

Committee  Organization  and  Manage- 

ment   

60 

VII 

Keeping  in  Touch  with  the  Congrega- 

tion      

70 

VIII 

A  Working  Program  for  the  Church 

82 

IX 

The  Financial  Campaign     . 

93 

X 

A  News  Space  Clinic  .... 

102 

XI 

Getting    the    Most    from    Volunteer 

Workers 

117 

Index 127 


HOW  TO  MAKE 
THE  CHURCH  GO 


Chapter  I:  Introductory — 

The  Minister  as  an 

Executive 

The  idea  back  of  this  book  is  not  to  invent  new 
tasks  for  the  minister  or  to  lay  burdens  upon 
men  already  carrying  too  much  weight.  It  is 
rather  to  discuss  from  an  executive  point  of  view 
many  of  the  tasks  of  the  ministry  and  to  show 
the  principles  underlying  executive  success.  Its 
viewpoint  is  psychological  and  practical.  Psy- 
chological, for  the  success  of  an  executive  de- 
pends upon  the  ability  to  recognize  the  various 
reactions  of  the  human  mind  and  soul  to  speech 
and  action,  and  practical,  that  the  principles  may 
be  worked  out  in  the  average  parish."^ 

Executive  Duties  Already  on  Minister 

The  traditional  division  of  the  tasks  of  the 

minister  was  into  two  classes,  the  pulpit  and  the 

pastoral.     But  that  day  has  long  since  passed. 

The  age  of  Sunday  schools  has  required  that  he 

11 


12      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

be  versed  in  the  principles  of  religious  education. 
And  the  spirit  of  organization  has  placed  on  him 
the  executive  duties.  He  must  be  able  to  lead 
and  direct  men  at  their  religious  activities. 
Churches  may  not  have  consciously  recognized 
this  and  theological  seminaries  have  not  officially 
placed  courses  in  executive  training  in  their  cur- 
ricula. But  the  minister  on  the  field  has  recog- 
nized that  the  success  of  individuals  has  de- 
pended as  much  upon  their  ability  to  get  along 
with  their  workers  as  in  oratorical  ability. 

Some  would  call  this  a  "knack"  or  a  gift  with- 
out realizing  that  there  are  well  grounded  princi- 
ples governing  such  success  and  the  ability  to 
handle  workers  may  be  developed  as  well  as 
others  of  life's  qualities.  Many  have  worked 
one  method.  One  minister  can  drive  programs 
through,  another  will  laugh  them  through,  per- 
haps another  will  weep  his  way  to  success.  Some 
have  the  ability  to  find  their  leaders  of  power 
and  tie  to  them.  But  more  and  more  there  is  an 
earnest  desire  on  the  part  of  preachers  to  be  able 
to  control  the  many  forces  which  make  it  pos- 
sible for  them  to  win  as  parish  leaders. 

One  minister  boasts  that  his  success  as  a  pas- 
tor has  been  brought  about  by  his  ability  to  com- 


The  Minister  as  an  Executive        13 

promise  two  conflicting  groups.  If  one  faction 
wanted  the  entrance  to  the  new  church  on  the 
east  and  another  wanted  it  on  the  west,  he  would 
suggest  that  it  be  placed  in  the  corner,  thus  sat- 
isfying both  parties.  He  tells  of  a  dispute  as  to 
whether  the  choir  should  be  built  for  a  quartet 
or  a  chorus.  Both  sides  had  a  large  following. 
The  ^'gr^at  compromiser"  showed  his  mastery. 
He  had  an  adjustable  platform  that  could  be 
used  for  either. 

Instances  such  as  quoted  above  undoubtedly 
require  executive  ability  to  handle.  Compromise 
may  be  a  legitimate  tool  in  the  hand  of  the 
leader,  but  it  should  never  be  the  major  tool. 
There  have  been  many  other  approaches  to  the 
executive  standard.  ^'Molasses  will  catch  more 
flies  than  vinegar;"  "You  can't  saw  wood  with 
a  hammer;"  "Leading  is  better  than  driving;" 
are  all  well  known  adages  which  ministers  as 
well  as  others  have  learned  to  use. 

Other  attempts  are  shown  in  the  following  two 
^teps  toward  a  recognition  of  the  executive.  The 
old-time  minister  in  addressing  new  candidates 
Would  usually  insist  that  "It  is  better  to  put  ten 
men  to  work  than  to  do  ten  men's  work."  There 
is  a  big  truth  here  and  there  is  good  psychology 


14      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

back  of  it.  A  happy  church  is  a  church  of 
workers.  But  merely  motion  and  work  without 
an  end  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  Church.  An- 
other illustration  is  that  of  the  president  of  a 
Theological  seminary  instructing  his  charges 
how  to  make  their  church  officers  act  as  buffers. 
His  scheme  is  to  always  get  a  church  officer 
between  the  minister  and  the  difficulty.  It  is 
a  farther  step  and  a  feeler  toward  the  full  way 
which  this  book  proposes  to  go. 

Failures  in  Life  Because  of  Difficulty  in  Getting 
Along  with  People 

The  ministry  and  every  other  walk  of  life 
is  strewn  with  failures.  Many  of  these  failures 
come  from  one's  inability  to  get  along  with  his 
fellow  men.  In  the  home,  at  school,  in  busi- 
ness and  in  the  church,  our  success  depends 
not  so  much  upon  ourselves  as  our  ability  to 
appreciate  the  other  fellow  and  to  get  his  point 
of  view.  Other  people  are  apt  to  be  peculiar. 
But  our  happiness  and  success  depends  upon 
working  with  them.  We  need  to  learn  the 
lesson  of  Washington.  He  realized  that  neither 
his  officers  nor  men  were  trained  for  military 
life.    But  he  had  a  philosophy  which  was  equal 


The  Minister  as  an  Executive        15 

to  the  occasion.  "If  you  can't  have  people  as 
you  want  them,  you  must  take  them  as  they 
are,"  he  would  say. 

No  minister  will  have  people  as  he  wants 
them.  He  can  select  no  inner  circle  for  per- 
sonal contact  and  leave  the  rest  alone.  He  will 
have  the  obstreperous  rams  as  well  as  the  gentle 
lambs.  The  church  was  organized  before  he 
came  to  the  parish.  Men  and  women  have  been 
elected  to  office  and  are  serving.  They  are  his 
colaborers.  Like  their  minister  they  have  their 
imperfections.  Among  the  membership  of  the 
average  congregation  are  materialists,  scandal 
mongers,  dollar  servers,  politicians,  short  sighted 
business  men,  tradition  lovers,  short  sighted  en- 
thusiasts and  a  hundred  others  of  different  classi- 
fications. They  all  had  some  reason  for  join- 
ing the  church.  The  assumption  is  that  they 
have  heard  the  divine  call  and  desire  to  serve. 
With  these  people  the  minister  must  make  his 
church. 

As  he  knows  these  people  he  learns  of  the 
forces  which  will  commend  the  work  to  them. 
It  may  seem  difficult  to  build  the  kingdom  of 
God  with  the  material  of  the  average  church 
but  on  the  other  hand  there  is  the  evidence  that 


16      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

they  have  the  divine  nature.  They  have  heard 
the  call.  Their  vision  is  poor  and  their  expres- 
sion may  be  worse  but  underneath  it  all  is  a 
desire  to  do  something  for  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  for 
the  minister  to  lead  them  to  better  sight  and 
better  expression.  He  is  to  make  the  banker  feel 
that  there  is  something  in  life  more  than  stocks 
and  bonds.  He  is  to  make  the  washerwoman 
feel  that  there  is  something  besides  washtubs. 
And  more  than  this  he  is  to  bring  together  the 
diverse  elements  in  the  congregation  and  get 
them  working  together  in  the  great  program  of 
the  church. 

Modern  Church  Is  a  Church  of  Service 

The  fact  that  the  church  of  to-day  is  interpret- 
ing Christianity  in  terms  of  action  and  service 
rather  than  in  holding  services  places  still  fur- 
ther emphasis  upon  the  executive.  His  task 
is  not  simply  to  stand  in  with  people.  He  must 
direct  people  in  religious  activities.  Ministers 
have  sometimes  been  surprised  at  the  advance- 
ment of  their  fellows  who  have  lesser  pulpit 
ability.  But  keen  eyed  business  men  who  have 
served  on  the  pulpit  committees  have  not  alone 
listened  to  the  sermons  of  their  candidates  but 


The  Minister  as  an  Executive        17 

have  looked  over  their  fields  to  see  evidences  of 
mastery.  And  there  is  little  question  but  that 
the  great  churches  in  America  to-day  were 
builded  not  alone  by  great  preachers  but  by 
great  executives.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  here 
and  there  there  is  talk  of  the  larger  churches 
having  a  business  manager.  But  there  will  al- 
ways be  thousands  of  small  churches  which  must 
rely  upon  the  executive  ability  of  their  minis- 
ters for  direction  and  progress. 
.The  executive  will  base  his  success  upon  or- 
ganization rather  than  his  own  personality.  One 
of  the  best  business  men  that  the  author  knows 
recently  said  in  discussing  his  own  business:  ^T 
have  my  business  so  organized  that  if  I  should 
die  to-morrow  the  clients  need  not  know  that  I 
am  dead."  The  minister  may  find  a  good  ideal 
here.  The  church  should  be  so  organized  that 
it  is  greater  than  the  minister.  The  real  execu- 
tive will  long  for  his  program  in  the  church  to 
outlast  himself. 

We  remember  hearing  a  complaint  from  one 
minister  that  a  certain  church  was  impossible. 
To  prove  his  point  he  called  to  mind  several 
changes  which  were  made  during  his  pastorate. 
"But,"  he  insisted,  "as  soon  as  I  left  every- 


18       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

thing  slipped  back."  It  may  be  questioned  as  to 
just  how  far  that  was  really  a  compliment  to 
the  preacher's  ability.  In  one  way  he  failed 
badly.  The  congregation  had  not  been  im- 
pressed with  the  need  of  the  reforms  which  he 
brought  about. 

An  instance  comes  to  mind  of  a  church  which 
has  recently  called  a  minister.  There  were  two 
men  under  consideration  and  some  surprise  was 
expressed  that  they  selected  the  man  they  did. 
A  member  of  the  committee  volunteered  the  in- 
formation. They  found  that  the  one  man  won 
by  his  personality  and  had  successful  pastorates. 
But  there  was  always  a  reaction  when  he  left. 
The  other  man  builded  parishes  so  substantially 
that  the  wheels  kept  turning  until  his  successor 
was  installed. 

The  executive  will  abhor  stunts  and  mere 
^notion.  He  will  utilize  the  value  of  having 
many  workers  but  he  will  seek  to  have  them 
working  at  something  which  fits  into  the  larger 
program  of  the  church  in  ways  which  are  worth 
while.  Carrying  wood  from  one  corner  in  the 
tcellar  to  another  and  then  carrying  back  is  not 
enough.  He  will  want  it  carried  to  the  stove 
where  it  may  be  burned. 


The  Minister  as  an  Executive        19 

But  his  chief  work  is  in  building  an  organiza- 
tion which  will  take  care  of  the  work.  If  he 
gets  the  organization  builded,  that  will  take  care 
of  the  other  necessary  things.  Whether  it  is  a 
new  church,  a  financial  campaign  or  any  other 
specific  growth  that  is  desired,  if  he  has  built 
his  organization  and  has  the  resources,  the  pro- 
gram will  be  successfully  accomplished. 


Chapter  II:  Forces  Which 
Move  Men 

The  churchman  has  always  been  familiar  with 
the  psychology  of  the  crowd.  The  great  evan- 
gelists and  leaders  have  been  masters  of  that 
science  and  the  clergy  have  been  influenced  by 
them  to  a  greater  or  lesser  degree.  Even  to-day 
the  student  for  the  ministry  is  carefully  coached 
into  the  method  of  getting  the  attention  of  his 
congregation  and  of  holding  its  mind.  The 
psychology  of  the  executive — the  man  who  gets 
other  men  to  work — 4s  of  a  somewhat  different 
type  and  a  man  who  can  hold  large  audiences 
spellbound  may  find  himself  in  difficulty  in 
working  out  a  constructive  program.  It  is  an  his- 
toric fact  that  crowds  may  tear  down  but  seldom 
build  up. 

It  is  also  true  that  the  type  of  mind  which 
falls  under  the  sway  of  the  popular  evangelist 
and  feels  a  strange  and  mystical  delight  in  meet- 
ings, oftentimes  is  helpless  when  given  a  com- 
prehensive task  for  work.    His  religion  is  only 

20 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  21 

effective  when  in  meetings.  Indeed  oftentimes 
his  mind  is  unable  to  conceive  of  religion  through 
service  or  a  program  of  work.  For  him  it  con- 
sists in  getting  a  good  ^^feehng."  Methods  which 
in  the  past  have  attracted  great  numbers  of 
people  to  the  church  have  usually  at  the  same 
time  alienated  others  who  by  independent  think- 
ing have  a  natural  reaction  to  the  suggestion  of 
the  crowd. 

The  minister  executive  must  have  more  than 
one  string  to  his  bow.  He  must  study  the  man 
he  would  put  to  work  and  then  see  just  what 
weapon  he  has  which  will  reach  the  vulnerable 
point.  Let  him  assume  to  begin  with  that 
every  man  can  be  reached  by  some  honorable 
appeal  for  service.  Some  men  he  instinctively 
recognizes  are  bigger  than  others.  He  will  want 
them  because  of  their  larger  influence.  But  he 
will  not  neglect  the  lesser  lights  nor  the  young 
men  and  women  who  have  possibilities  of  lead- 
ership for  the  future.  The  question  of  leader- 
ship is  the  great  question  for  the  future  of  the 
church. 

Fred  C.  Kelly  in  a  volume  entitled  Human 
Nature  in  Business,  gives  considerable  space  to 
illustrations  showing  the  different  appeals  which 


22       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

a  reporter  will  use  to  get  next  to  the  man  he 
wishes  to  interview.  John  D.  Rockefeller  was 
reached  by  telling  him  what  a  fine  talk  he  had 
given  to  the  children  in  his  Sunday  school  in 
Cleveland.  The  great  financier  was  moved  by 
the  compliment  to  his  talking  ability  and  the 
appreciation  of  his  interest  in  the  Sunday  school. 
The  late  Chief  Justice  Fuller  reacted  to  the  re- 
mark, "Mr.  Justice,  I  didn't  suppose  that  a  man 
on  the  Supreme  Court  could  be  so  human."  Jim 
Williams,  policeman  and  source  of  interesting 
news,  could  only  be  handled  by  his  favorite 
topic,  food.  Certain  U.  S.  Marines  had  sore  feet. 
The  reporter  who  learned  that  fact  and  used  it 
had  no  trouble  getting  interviews. 

Methods'whichwill  attract  one  man  will  repel 
another.  Kelly  tells  the  instance  of  a  salesman 
who  has  a  funny  story  which  he  used  as  a  way 
of  introduction.  It  went  well  with  nine  men 
but  th^  tenth  turned  on  his  heel  in  disgust. 

"I  wouldn't  buy  anything  from  you.  You're 
too  condemned  smart." 

Thus  in  a  church  a  contest  method  may  be 
productive  with  some  characters.  Others  will 
resent  the  attempt  to  draw  them  in  by  any  such 
method. 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  23 

The  controlling  forces  which  the  executive 
may  use  are  many.  The  classification  of  ten 
major  forces  here  will  not  exhaust  them  but  give 
an  idea  of  the  possibilities. 

1.  Self-interest. 

2.  Desire  for  Recognition. 

3.  Love  of  Ceremony. 

4.  Influence  of  Prestige  and  Imitation. 

5.  Competition. 

6.  Force  of  Public  Opinion. 

7.  Love  of  Fair  Play. 

8.  Comradeship. 

9.  Inherent  Ambition  to  be  of  some  Service  in 

the  World. 

10.  Constraining  Love  of  Christ. 

I.    Self-interest 

This  may  be  the  great  compelling  force  of 
life  as  the  materialist  insists.  The  business  exec- 
utive can  make  this  appeal  to  those  under  him. 
The  man  who  makes  good  is  promoted,  his  in- 
come is  increased  and  he  receives  a  larger  share 
of  the  good  things  of  this  life.  The  minister  is 
paying  no  salaries  to  his  workers.  He  must  find 
some  other  compensation  for  those  who  must 
be  reached  by  the  appeal  of  self  interest.    This 


24      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

may  not  be  as  difficult  or  as  immoral  as  it  seems 
at  first  when  one  considers  the  compensation 
which  the  church  may  offer. 

The  average  religious  task  brings  a  certain  self 
culture  to  the  individual.  It  increases  his  per- 
sonal efficiency  and  broadens  his  outlook.  I 
have  in  mind  a  man  who  is  now  manager  of  a 
great  department  store.  He  is  confident  that 
any  executive  ability  which  he  possesses  was 
tdeveloped  first  by  acting  as  superintendent  of  his 
:Sunday  school.  Then  for  the  first  time  he 
Jearned  how  to  get  along  with  people.  Every 
reader  can  bring  to  his  mind  instances  of  workers 
who  have  found  the  teaching  of  a  Sunday  school 
class  to  lead  to  a  broader  appreciation  of  the 
problems  and  opportunities  of  life. 

It  is  interesting  to  find  that  Prof.  E.  A.  Ross 
in  his  Social  Psychology  gives  as  one  of  the 
prophylactics  against  the  mob  mind,  participa- 
tion in  volunteer  associations.  ^'Participation  in 
the  management  of  a  society  developes  ac- 
quaintance with  rules  of  discussion,  tolerance 
of  opponents,  love  of  order,  and  readiness  to 
abide  by  the  will  of  the  majority.  Above  all 
it  teaches  people  to  rate  the  windbag,  the  ranter, 
or  the  sophist  at  his  true  worth,  and  to  value  the 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  25 

less  showy  qualities  of  a  man  by  judgment  and 
reason."  Here  it  is  of  evident  self-interest  for 
a  person  to  engage  in  organized  church  activity. 

One  of  the  interesting  contributions  as  to  the 
value  of  religious  work  comes  from  a  real  estate 
dealer.  For  some  years  he  has  served  as  trus- 
tee of  a  little  church  although  he  lives  nearer 
to  a  stronger  one.  ^'I  handle  considerable  real 
estate  in  that  section,"  he  said.  ^'One  of  the 
best  assets  in  the  selling  of  homes  is  a  good  active 
church.  I  can't  afford  not  to  take  an  interest  in 
the  little  church  of  which  I  am  a  trustee." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  discuss  in  this  book  the 
morality  of  the  various  appeals  which  may  be 
made.  Some  are  much  more  noble  than  others. 
We  merely  want  to  outline  some  of  the  forces 
which  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  minister  who 
seeks  colaborers.  The  appeal  such  as  that  above 
is  a  powerful  and  legitimate  one  to  use. 

II.    Desire  for  Recognition 

This  force  has  a  strong  appeal  for  the  average 
man  or  woman.  They  like  to  be  recognized  as 
a  leader  or  as  having  some  special  ability  of 
some  kind  or  another.  They  will  gladly  yield 
themselves  in  service  when  one  will  yield  in  re- 


26       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

turn  the  desired  recognition.  A  minister  tells  of 
an  experience  he  had  with  an  influential  member 
of  the  congregation  whom  he  had  difficulty  in 
approaching.  The  preacher  could  not  tell  just 
what  was  wrong  but  deliberately  set  out  to  find 
out.  He  called  on  the  man  and  in  the  conver- 
sation a  criticism  of  a  sermon  preached  a  few 
weeks  before  was  made.  The  minister  was  quick 
to  grasp  the  situation. 

"So  you  noticed  that,  did  you?"  he  asked.  "I 
knew  it  myself  but  thought  no  one  else  would 
get  it.  I  can  see  that  you  are  a  good  judge  of 
sermons." 

He  won  his  man  for  this  man  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  connoisseur  of  good  sermons  and 
he  wanted  his  ability  recognized.  Another  may 
want  his  political  strength  recognized,  another 
his  ability  to  preside.  Parents  may  be  won  if 
the  ability  of  their  children  is  recognized.  As  in 
the  instance  of  John  D.  Rockefeller  told  by  Fred 
Kelly,  the  man  reacted  to  the  recognition  of  his 
ability  to  interest  children. 

Of  course  the  desire  for  recognition  sometimes 
approaches  the  ludicrous.  A  minister  tells  that 
during  the  war  there  was  a  certain  Scotchman 
in  the  town  who  distinguished  himself  by  having 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  27 

four  brothers  killed  in  action.  He  went  from 
church  to  church,  told  his  story  in  the  various 
meetings  and  delighted  in  being  recognized  a 
patriot.  Another  instance  is  of  a  woman  who  as 
a  girl  was  trained  in  a  select  school.  Although 
she  is  sixty  years  of  age  now  it  still  requires 
some  intimation  of  her  superior  education  to  get 
her  at  work  in  the  church  societies. 

III.    Love  of  Ceremony 

The  Protestant  church  is  not  very  well 
equipped  for  the  exercising  of  this  social  force. 
Our  inheritance  is  a  little  too  strictly  intellectual 
and  moral.  Founded  in  a  day  of  democratic  im- 
pulses the  prophecy  was  that  eventually  men 
would  care  little  for  titles  of  distinction  or  elab- 
orate ceremony.  The  prophecy  has  not  been 
fulfilled.  The  enormous  growth  of  lodges  dur- 
ing the  past  hundred  years  is  a  pretty  good  indi- 
cation that  there  is  an  instinct  in  man  which 
seeks  the  ceremonial.  The  social  explanation  of 
the  lodge  usually  is  that  it  is  the  sub-conscious 
outcropping  of  the  days  of  middle  ages  when 
men  sought  for  titles  and  ranks.  So  to-day  we 
have  our  worshipful  masters,  noble-grands  and 
other  celebrities. 


28      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

A  parade  brings  out  all  sorts  of  orders,  the 
members  uniformed  with  bright  colors  and 
badges  which  would  do  tribute  to  the  savages 
of  Africa.  The  writer  remembers  watching  one 
huge  negro  who  was  on  the  train  en  route  to  a 
convention  of  his  order.  He  had  no  shoes  on 
his  feet  but  he  had  a  scarlet  uniform  with  a  scar- 
let hat.  A  huge  white  feather  was  in  the  hat 
and  he  carried  a  sword  in  his  hand.  No  un- 
trained native  could  have  shown  a  keener  de- 
light in  a  new  piece  of  dress  goods  than  did  this 
American  negro.  This  love  of  decoration  and 
ceremony  is,  as  Ross  says,  "a  droll  commentary 
upon  a  society  that  has  found  so  much  to  ridi- 
cule in  the  infirmities  of  the  old  world." 

Since  reading  Bishop  McConnell's  Public 
Opinion  and  Theology  it  seems  easy  to  believe 
that  the  present  day  tendency  toward  a  more 
ritualistic  and  ornate  service  of  worship  is  in 
response  to  this  love  of  ceremony.  The  difficulty 
is  to  arrange  a  service  to  give  all  a  sufficient  part. 
Still  there  is  the  opportunity  for  the  ushers,  the 
choir,  the  reception  committee  and  in  case  of 
social  meetings  there  is  always  the  opportunity 
to  appeal  to  those  who  will  respond  to  this  force. 
In  the  churches  which  provide  for  lay  distribu- 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  29 

tion  of  the  elements  there  is  the  chance  to  utilize 
the  frock  coats  with  sufficient  ceremony  to  inter- 
est this  instinct. 


Chapter  III:  Forces  Which 
Move  Men  (Continued) 

IV.    Prestige  and  Imitation 

The  value  of  having  somebody  in  a  movement 
who  occupies  a  large  place  in  the  public  mind  is 
well  known  to  most  promotive  agencies.  In  the 
letter  which  comes  to  the  desk  seeking  aid  for 
suffering  cats  there  is  always  a  list  of  honorary 
officers  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  influence 
my  support.  I  am  much  more  inclined  to  con- 
sider the  matter  if  it  is  endorsed  by  Senator 
Blank.  If  a  church  can  get  some  prominent  man 
to  head  a  committee  even  though  a  secretary 
has  to  do  most  of  his  work  for  him  it  is  usually 
a  good  move.  Men  like  to  serve  on  committees 
which  will  bring  them  in  touch  with  prominent 
men.  Many  men  are  always  talking  about  their 
acquaintance  with  Judge as  if  the  work- 
ing with  him  also  brings  them  the  prestige. 

The  man  of  prestige  may  be  reached  on  the 
ground  of  his  influence.  As  a  rule,  the  large  men 
of  the  land  like  to  have  their  influence  count 

30 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  31 

in  the  right  direction.  If  it  can  be  pointed  out 
to  them  that  the  mention  of  their  name  or  their 
personal  service  will  urge  others  to  good  work 
they  are  usually  willing  to  give  of  their  time  and 
interest. 

The  mass  of  people  are  apt  to  be  very  good 
imitators,  in  motion  at  least,  of  the  great  or  near 
great.  See  the  many  little  evangelists  who  mim- 
icked Sunday  when  he  was  in  the  days  of  his 
glory.  Watch  the  hundreds  of  choir  directors 
who  were  miniature  Rodeheavers.  Let  the 
Prince  of  Wales  change  the  style  of  his  coat 
and  immediately  all  the  tailors  of  the  realm  have 
orders  for  the  new  styles.  Mrs.  Harding  wears 
blue  and  all  the  ladies  of  the  country  seek  for 
Harding  blue.  Many  churchmen  were  brought 
into  the  Inter-Church  World  Movement  because 
John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr.,  was  interested  in  it. 

So  it  is  in  rehgious  activities.  Let  those  who 
have  prestige  take  an  interest  and  the  church 
world  may  become  the  very  thing.  If  they  stay 
out  churches  will  have  difficulty  in  interesting 
people.  It  is  interesting  to  conjecture  just  what 
effect  it  would  have  on  church  work  in  general 
should  some  of  our  famous  moving  picture  he- 
roes or  heroines  become  interested  in  teaching 


32      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

a  Sunday  school  or  leading  a  Christian  Endeavor 
meeting.  If  the  millions  of  young  girls  should 
follow  their  example  as  intently  as  do  their  style 
of  hair  dressing  America  might  have  a  real  re- 
vival of  religion. 

V.    Competition 

Everybody  loves  the  game  where  the  competi- 
tion is  strong.  The  youngest  child  delights  to 
put  his  ability  against  that  of  his  brother  or 
neighbor.  And  the  same  spirit  persists  until  the 
end  of  life.  The  octogenarian  is  proud  of  his 
walking  ability.  The  civil  war  veteran  delights 
to  show  his  marching  strength  in  the  parade  with 
the  veterans  of  the  Great  War.  The  writer  re- 
members in  a  recent  church  drive  seeing  digni- 
fied elders  long  past  middle  life  chuckling  be- 
cause of  a  slight  advantage  their  team  had  over 
a  neighboring  one. 

The  church  can  use  this  spirit.  Church  com- 
petition is  not  an  entirely  bad  thing.  People 
can  be  moved  to  action  by  the  play  spirit  of  com- 
petition. Churches  have  learned  from  the  war 
time  drives  of  the  value  of  assigning  quotas  to 
various  churches  allowing  competition  between 
them.    Sunday  schools  and  church  societies  have 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  33 

lound  membership  contests  of  value  in  building 
up  the  various  enterprises.  People  will  be 
dragged  out  in  a  contest  who  will  answer  no 
other  appeal. 

But  the  greatest  appeal  to  the  spirit  is  the 
contest  between  the  forces  of  righteousness  and 
sin.  Let  a  temperance  or  law  enforcement  fight 
come  and  the  minister  can  enlist  new  supporters. 
If  he  can  show  that  he  is  continually  fighting 
against  enemies  in  the  building  of  his  organiza- 
tion the  very  spirit  of  competition  will  lead  men 
to  support  him.  Some  ministers  very  cleverly 
display  news  of  enemies  they  are  fighting  with- 
out asserting  just  who  or  what  the  enemies  are. 
Perhaps  they  do  not  know.  But  it  is  sufficient 
to  declare  them  to  win  support  from  some  quar- 
ters. 

VI.    Force  of  Public  Opinion 

Public  opinion  does  nearly  everything. 
Bishop  McConnell  doubts  that  there  has  ever 
been  a  form  of  government  which  was  not 
shaped  by  the  opinion  of  the  governed.  Un- 
fortunately even  in  our  day,  public  opinion  is 
not  always  stable.  Sometimes  wise  promoters 
create  or  unmake    it    for    specific    ends.     But 


34      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

when  it  is  really  once  shaped,  no  man  will  stand 
against  it. 

"After  an  overwhelming  public  opinion  has 
been  reached  in  consequence  of  adequate  dis- 
cussion, the  subject  is  dismissed  from  the  atten- 
tion of  society  and  the  conclusion,  entering  the 
current  of  tradition,  passes  quietly  from  genera- 
tion to  generation  along  with  other  transmitted 
beliefs  and  standards."    Ross. 

A  minister's  work  is  made  difficult  or  easy 
according  to  the  attitude  of  public  opinion.  The 
church  should  strike  hard  when  the  pendulum 
swings  its  way.  Certain  moral  reactions  in  the 
world  are  now  tending  to  emphasize  the  per- 
manency of  the  church  as  contrasted  with  the 
temporariness  of  human  institutions.  This  can 
be  used  to  advantage.  And  then  there  is  a  cur- 
rent belief  which  is  becoming  strong  that  the 
church,  as  has  been  taught  by  preachers,  is  the 
one  institution  between  human  society  and 
chaos. 

A  prominent  contractor  in  one  of  our  large 
cities  who  has  never  been  noted  for  attentiveness 
to  church  was  recently  canvassed  for  a  pledge  for 
a  new  church  building.  His  pledge  came  easily 
with  an  explanation. 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  35 

"This  war  has  opened  my  eyes  to  many 
things.  I  do  not  beHeve  that  any  citizen  has  a 
right  to  be  indifferent  toward  the  demands  of 
either  the  public  school  or  the  church." 

VII.    Fair  Play 

This  is  a  distinctly  American  characteristic. 
Says  Henry  Van  Dyke:  "The  spirit  of  fair  play 
in  its  deepest  origin,  is  a  kind  of  religion."  And 
it  certainly  belongs  to  those  nobler  appeals 
which  one  can  make  for  Christian  service.  Many 
of  the  social  forces  we  appeal  to  are  used  not  for 
themselves  but  for  the  end.  This  can  be  used 
for  itself  as  well. 

The  church  stands  for  fair  play  in  a  world 
which  is  unfair.  It  claims  to  be  free  in  a  world 
where  nearly  every  other  institution  is  tied  by 
conditions.  Take  the  statement  in  the  sermon 
by  Dr.  Harry  Emerson  Fosdick,  "The  ministry 
is  not  for  sale,"  is  a  tremendous  appeal  for  the 
support  of  right  thinking  men  and  women.  Gen- 
eral opinion  has  it  that  the  press  is  subsidized 
for  a  purpose,  that  houses  of  entertainment  are 
run  for  a  profit,  that  wealth  can  buy  verdicts  of 
the  courts.  If  the  church  can  make  an  unpreju- 
diced appeal  to  the  people  of  the  world,  standing 


J 


36      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

for  fair  play  for  all,  there  will  be  a  tremendous 
response. 

VIII.    Comradeship 

Mankind  is  hungry  for  friendship.  The  word 
friend  has  become  one  of  the  most  sacred  words 
of  life.  The  church  is  one  of  the  greatest  friend 
making  forces  in  the  world.  Its  various  societies 
draw  men  together,  give  an  opportunity  for 
youths  and  maidens  to  become  acquainted  and 
the  working  together  in  altruistic  enterprises 
strengthens  the  friendship. 

The  stock  in  trade  of  the  average  church  is 
friendliness.  Without  it,  it  would  be  paralyzed. 
The  church  which  can  make  an  appeal  that  it 
has  a  congenial  group  of  spirits  at  work  and  can 
back  it  up  in  actual  practice  has  a  mighty  draw- 
ing force.  Some  would  even  question  whether 
denominationalism  plays  as  important  a  part  in 
the  selection  of  a  church  for  worship  as  does 
friendliness. 

In  the  family  of  a  certain  Methodist  minister 
there  are  four  boys.  Some  time  ago  they  were 
worshipping  with  four  different  denominations  in 
four  different  cities.  They  were  found  in  Pres- 
byterian,   Unitarian,    Baptist    and    Episcopal 


Forces  Which  Move  Men  37 

churches.    In  each  instance  the  same  reason  was 
given.    They  found  congenial  spirits. 

IX.  The  Inherent  Desire  to  be  of  Some  Service 
in  the  World 

Here  indeed  is  a  noble  appeal  and  most  men 
at  some  time  or  another  have  felt  it.  No  one 
wants  to  die  with  the  feeling  that  the  world  has 
been  no  better  because  he  has  lived.  He  wants 
to  leave  something  in  noble  service  to  build  up 
after  he  has  gone.  A  grave  marker  is  not  suffi- 
cient. A  man  of  limited  means  accompanied  a 
party  in  the  survey  of  a  very  active  rural  com- 
munity church.  He  became  impressed  with  its 
possibilities. 

^'If  I  had  a  million  dollars  I  would  endow 
something  like  that  in  my  own  community,"  he 
asserted.  "But  since  I  have  not  I  will  give  what 
I  have  that  in  conjunction  with  others  we  may 
make  our  own  work  most  worth  while." 

A  young  man  had  recently  been  promoted  to 
a  foremanship  in  his  shop. 

"Technically,  I  can  handle  the  work  all  right," 
he  told  his  pastor,  "but  I  want  to  do  something 
to  cast  the  right  thoughts  over  the  lives  of  the 
men." 


38       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

And  take  the  statement  of  Sergeant  York,  the 
war's  greatest  hero.  He  has  been  appealed  to 
to  pose  for  moving  pictures  at  a  large  salary. 

"I  want  to  do  something  for  Jesus  Christ  and 
his  Kingdom,"  is  his  answer. 

X.    ''The  Love  of  Christ  Constraineth  Us'' 

Every  minister  would  be  delighted  if  he  could 
deal  with  this  quality  with  all  of  his  workers. 
Unfortunately  he  cannot.  Not  all  of  them 
have  felt  the  constraining  love  of  Christ.  But 
those  who  have  will  go  all  of  the  way.  The 
others  will  go  part  way.  They  will  work  and 
help,  led  by  some  force  or  another.  But  it  is 
only  those  who  know  this  constraining  love  who 
will  go  to  the  point  of  sacrifice. 

But  the  minister  should  be  constantly  on  the 
lookout  for  hearts  which  are  being  kissed  by 
this  love.  The  real  strength  of  the  church  will 
be  found  in  the  band  who  are  ready  to  go  all  of 
the  way.  And  happy  is  that  minister  who  has  his 
tasks  made  lighter  by  the  force  of  this  appeal. 

"Moreover,  a  more  excellent  way  show  I  unto 
you.  If  I  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of 
angels  but  have  not  love,  I  am  become  sounding 
brass  or  a  clanging  cymbal." 


Chapter  IV:  The  Church 
Office 

The  minister  executive  will  have  an  office.  It 
is  as  necessary  as  tools  for  the  mechanic.  The 
salesman  may  sell  without  a  store  but  an  exec- 
utive must  have  an  office  from  which  to  direct 
his  many  salesmen  and  workers.  The  office  may 
be  in  the  parsonage,  rectory,  manse,  hired  room 
or  the  church,  but  to  be  effective  in  his  field 
there  must  be  an  office  with  an  opportunity  to 
equip  it  reasonably  well  for  his  task. 

The  traditional  tasks  of  the  ministry,  espe- 
cially in  the  mind  of  laymen,  were  of  two  kinds, 
pulpit^  and  pastoral.  Churches  in  considering 
prospective  ministers  would  seek  to  learn 
whether  their  candidate  was  a  good  preacher  or 
a  good  pastor.  In  contrast  to  this  the  modern 
church  looks  to  several  phases  as  were  men- 
tioned in  the  first  chapter.  For  the  two  tradi- 
tional tasks  he  needed  a  church  and  a  study.  In 
the  average  church  this  study  was  located  in  his 

39 


40      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

home  easily  available  for  himself.  The  transi- 
tion has  not  been  reached  by  any  means.  There 
are  many  churches  to-day  contemplating  church 
structures  which  provide  for  a  minister's  study 
in  the  new  building  but  do  not  provide  for  a 
church  office.  On  the  other  hand,  the  writer  has 
a  church  of  a  thousand  members  in  mind  in  a 
city  of  five  hundred  thousand  which  recently 
builded  a  church  and  labeled  one  room  with  a 
sign,  "Church  Office.''  The  only  use  it  is  put 
to  is  to  distribute  envelopes  from  once  a  year  and 
to  store  umbrellas  on  rainy  Sundays.  All  of  the 
real  executive  work  of  the  minister  is  xione  from 
his  home. 

The  contrast  between  the  old  and  the  new 
can  be  seen  from  the  announcements  of  two  dif- 
ferent churches. 

"The  minister  would  be  glad  to  see  any  who 
may  care  to  call  upon  him.  His  study  is  in  the 
back  part  of  the  Chapel  building,  and  may  be 
reached  by  the  stone  path  leading  from  the  road 
running  beside  the  chapel.  Any  one  regardless 
of  religious  affiliation  is  most  cordially  invited.'' 

Contrast  the  invitation  with  this: 

"Church  office  with  entrance  on  Green  street 
open  from  9  A.M.  to  6  P.M.  Phone  Oxford  647." 


The  Church  Office  41 

It  was  wise  to  announce  the  directions  for 
reaching  the  study  in  the  first  instance,  for  one 
would  have  a  difficult  time  otherwise  to  find  the 
minister.  In  the  second  instance  the  office  is 
within  twenty  feet  of  the  side  walk. 

The  church  office,  preferably  located  in  the 
church,  should  be  easily  accessible.  There  may 
be  some  exceptions  to  this,  as  in  the  one  man 
office,  when  accessibility  to  the  office  also  means 
instant  accessibility  to  the  minister.  But  if  the 
minister  has  a  helper  he  can  protect  his  own 
time  and  still  meet  the  needs  of  the  modern 
office.  But  the  office  should  never  be  located  in 
some  out  of  way  corner  in  the  church  which  can- 
not be  used  for  anything  else,  and  which  can 
only  be  reached  by  passing  through  the  audi- 
torium or  a  number  of  rooms  which  would  be 
puzzling  to  a  stranger.  As  a  newspaper  man 
seeking  interviews  one  can  testify  that  it  is  usu- 
ally more  difficult  to  locate  the  minister's  office 
in  a  church  than  it  is  to  locate  the  office  of  any 
business  or  professional  man  in  a  large  office 
building.  It  is  little  wonder  that  the  church 
secretary  will  look  up  rather  surprised  when  one 
finally  overcomes  the  winding  halls  and  steps  into 
the  office  of  the  prosperous  church. 


42       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

The  great  need  of  an  office  in  the  modern 
church  organization  is  for  centralization  of  its 
work.  It  has  been  stated  that  what  business 
would  consider  chaos  the  modern  church  would 
interpret  as  democracy.  It  is  true  that  in  many 
churches  with  a  treasurer  living  in  one  part  of 
the  town  and  the  clerk  living  in  another  and  the 
minister  devoting  his  time  in  his  study  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  tell  just  where  things  are  at.  The  church 
office  should  have  information  at  hand  instantly 
in  regard  to  the  various  activities  of  the  church. 
It  should  be  the  natural  place  for  people  to  seek 
information  concerning  the  church.  But  it  is 
well  to  recognize  that  any  general  rules  laid 
down  may  not  prove  elastic  enough  to  meet  all 
conditions,  so  we  will  divide  church  offices  into 
three  classes  as  they  are  in  operation  to-day. 

1.  The  one  man  office. 

2.  The  office  with  one  helper  dividing  time 

with  other  tasks. 

3.  The  fully   equipped   office   with   two  or 

more  helpers. 

The  One  Man  Office 

Most  church  offices  will  be  one  man  offices  and 
the  man  in  most  of  these  offices  is  struggling  with 


The  Church  Office  43 

more  confusing  detail  than  he  can  satisfactorily 
handle  and  will  protest  against  any  which  will 
place  burdens  upon  him.  He  feels  the  need  of 
the  office  and  labor  saving  machinery  and  pos- 
sibly has  invested  in  some.  Perhaps  he  has  tried 
to  save  money  for  the  church  by  purchasing  a 
mimeograph  or  a  duplicator  for  parish  letters 
and  has  had  more  or  less  success  in  using  it.  Suc- 
cess in  this  respect  usually  means  getting  out  a 
letter  which  is  plain  enough  so  that  it  can  be 
read.  All  labor  saving  devices  may  have  a  place 
in  the  church  office.  Many  churches  use  them 
with  success  but  it  may  be  doubted  if  they  are 
a  part  of  the  one  man  office. 

The  executive  office  must  not  be  confused  with 
an  office  for  petty  detail  work  and  the  minister 
must  not  devote  his  time  to  clerical  labors.  I 
know  of  instances  where  ministers  print  an- 
nouncements of  various  kinds  for  the  church  be- 
cause they  have  equipment  and  ability  in  that 
respect.  But  the  executive  office  is  not  a  print- 
ing establishment  and  the  minister  is  not  a  prin- 
ter. He  has  a  larger  task  than  that.  Again  it 
may  be  doubted  if  the  one  man  office  should  try 
to  keep  all  of  the  various  reports,  church  and 
financial,  and  prepare  the  various  statistics.    If 


44      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

the  minister  becomes  too  much  of  a  clerk  he  will 
become  too  little  of  an  executive. 

Usually  the  one  man  office  will  be  office  and 
study  combined.  It  will  require  some  attention 
in  an  instance  such  as  this  to  make  the  proper 
division  of  time  and  to  have  all  things  in  an  or- 
derly manner.  It  may  require  some  effort  to 
keep  the  prophetic  spirit  in  the  ministry  under 
such  conditions.  But  it  is  being  successfully 
done. 

Equipment  needed  in  one  man  office. 

1.  Flat  top  desk. 

2.  Typewriter. 

3.  Five  sets  of  files. 

(a)  Communicant  list. 

(b)  Contact  list. 

(c)  Correspondence. 

(d)  Church  reports  and  bulletins. 

(e)  Officers'  reports. 

4.  Stationery,  ink,  pens,  pins,  paper  clips, 
etc. 

6.    Telephone. 

A  desk  properly  used  may  be  a  complete  office 
in  itself.  There  are  some  patented  desks  which 
have  files  built  into  them.  The  average  one  can 
be  utilized  for  filing  with  a  little  attention.    The 


The  Church  Office  45 

present  tendency  is  to  keep  the  top  of  the  desk 
clear  for  work.  It  is  almost  an  axiom  that  the 
good  executive  has  a  clean  desk. 

The  typewriter  is  about  the  only  mechan- 
ical device  which  is  essential  to  the  one  man 
office.  This  is  necessary  for  correspondence  and 
for  getting  out  copy  for  the  printer.  There  will 
be  more  or  less  matter  to  be  mailed  to  the  various 
constituents  during  the  year.  Letters  may  be 
mimeographed  and  the  copy  will  be  prepared  in 
the  church  office.  Then  it  should  be  turned  over 
to  a  commercial  office  for  completion.  There 
are  several  styles  of  these  circular  letters.  The 
cheapest  and  probably  the  most  unsatisfactory 
way  is  to  mimeograph  it.  Then  it  may  be  print- 
ed. Then  there  are  certain  machines  which  con- 
tain type  which  do  a  good  job.  But  the  best  style 
for  the  average  circular  letter  is  to  submit  the 
copy  from  the  typev/riter  and  have  it  matched  in 
letter  and  color.  Then-  each  letter  may  be 
headed  with  the  typewriter,  giving  the  effect  of 
a  personal  letter. 

The  various  files  are  simple  and  need  scarcely 
a  word  of  explanation.  The  use  of  the  com- 
munion card  will  be  explained  in  another  chap- 
ter.   The  contact  list  is  the  larger  list  used  for 


46       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

recording  calls.  Two  colors  of  cards  are  neces- 
sary here.  One  is  for  church  members,  the  other 
for  non  members.  This  list  may  also  include 
business  houses  and  men  with  whom  the  church 
deals.  Correspondence  of  importance  will  be 
preserved  by  carbon  copy.  It  is  well  to  keep  all 
printed  reports  of  church  progress.  While  the 
one  man  office  will  not  attempt  to  keep  the  offi- 
cers' records  for  them  it  will  keep  copies 
of  their  reports.  Officers  should  be  expected  to 
present  their  reports  in  duplicate  so  that  the  min- 
ister may  know  just  how  every  department  of 
the  church  is  standing. 

The  telephone  is  a  necessity  and  yet  it  may 
be  abused.  In  many  instances  it  is  a  loss  of  time 
and  money.  Much  matter  can  be  handled  better 
by  mail  than  by  telephone.  And  with  the  service 
as  it  is  given  in  many  cities  to-day  much  time  can 
be  wasted  waiting  to  get  the  desired  party.  To 
get  a  man  by  telephone  is  apt  to  be  fruitless  un- 
less he  is  at  home.  If  you  leave  word  with  the 
family  the  message  will  be  forgotten  or  so 
changed  that  its  meaning  may  not  be  evident. 
A  letter,  on  the  other  hand,  reaches  the  man 
and  gives  its  message.  Rates  vary  but  in  most 
communities  a  message  by  mail  is  cheaper  than 


The  Church  Office  47 

one  by  telephone  when  everything  is  consid- 
ered. 

The  Office  with  One  Helper 

When  a  church  gets  a  membership  of  around 
five  hundred  members  the  minister  is  usually 
granted  a  helper.  The  tasks  of  the  helper  are 
not  very  clearly  defined  and  is  dependent  some- 
what upon  the  training  of  the  person  employed. 
Usually  the  assistant  takes  over  the  office  de- 
tail, looks  after  certain  organized  work  and 
makes  more  or  less  of  the  parish  calls.  There 
is  a  growing  field  here  for  young  women  who 
are  attracted  to  the  work  of  the  church  and  have 
the  ability  and  training  to  do  the  work.  A 
woman  will  usually  handle  the  clerical  work  bet- 
ter than  a  man  and  there  are  other  reasons  why 
a  church,  if  it  can  have  but  one  assistant,  should 
employ  a  woman.  Every  minister  who  has  had 
a  tactful  woman  doing  parish  work  for  him  ap- 
preciates the  value  of  a  woman  in  the  church 
machinery. 

When  the  minister  has  a  helper  the  office 
should  contain  two  rooms.  The  prophetic  work 
of  the  minister  requires  a  certain  amount  of  soli- 
tude.   His  best  sermons  will  be  worked  out  when 


48       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

he  is  by  himself.  The  employment  of  a  helper 
will  make  him  a  better  preacher  and  better 
executive.  Many  inquiries  at  the  office  can  be 
taken  care  of  by  the  helper  and  the  minister  can 
protect  his  time. 

At  this  enlargement  of  the  office  new  labor 
saving  devices  may  be  introduced.  If  the  helper 
has  had  a  business  school  training  perhaps  a 
mimeograph  or  printing  machine  may  be  a  wise 
investment.  An  addressograph  may  be  used  to 
get  mail  out  in  a  hurry.  Some  churches,  how^- 
ever,  have  a  prejudice  against  any  mechanical 
device  which  might  cause  a  cheap  appearance  in 
mail  which  is  sent  out. 

Many  of  the  detail  matters  which  have  been 
taken  care  of  by  the  volunteer  officers  can  now 
be  taken  over  by  the  office.  The  church  en- 
velopes can  be  ordered  and  addressed  there. 
Sunday  collections  may  be  tabulated  and  the 
money  banked.  All  church  mail  can  be  received 
and  redirected  to  the  proper  person.  Church 
societies  can  call  on  the  office  to  help  them  out 
with  announcements  and  letters. 

The  Large  Office 

For  this  section  of  the  chapter  we  will  consider 


The  Church  Office  49 

the  new  offices  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
church,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  a  church  of  1200  mem- 
bers. The  staff  consists  of  the  pastor,  an  asso- 
ciate, a  church  visitor,  and  two  secretaries.  The 
offices  occupy  four  rooms,  two  on  the  first 
and  two  on  the  second  floor.  The  rooms 
on  the  first  floor  are  for  the  associate  and  his 
secretary.  Entering  the  offices  one  comes  face 
to  face  with  the  secretary  who  is  also  the  oper- 
ator of  the  telephone  system  in  the  church  and 
parish  house.  Beyond  this  room  is  the  office  of 
the  associate  who  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  to  financial  organization  of  the  church.  All 
of  the  treasurer's  records  are  kept  in  his  office, 
he  receives  the  bills  and  has  the  checks  drawn 
for  the  treasurer's  signature.  It  is  evident  that 
with  a  budget  of  nearly  $50,000  per  year 
the  treasurer  must  have  some  help  like  this 
if  he  is  to  have  any  time  for  his  personal  busi- 
ness. 

The  office  and  study  of  the  pastor  are  on  the 
second  floor,  reached  only  by  passing  through 
the  lower  offices.  Visitors  are  received  only  by 
appointment.  Here  the  pastoral  records  of  the 
church  are  kept,  for  Dr.  S.  V.  V.  Holmes,  the 
minister,  is  the  pastor  as  well  as  the  preacher. 


50      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

He  is  well  protected  with  time  for  study  and  yet 
accessible  when  there  is  need. 

Two  things  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
writer  in  a  recent  visit  to  these  offices.  The  first 
was  the  absence  of  any  labor  saving  machinery. 
The  idea  is  that  the  work  turned  out  is  cheap  in 
appearance  and  does  not  make  the  impression 
which  is  necessary.  Second  was  the  bound  vol- 
umes of  the  weekly  bulletin  by  which  any  infor- 
mation concerning  the  history  of  the  church 
could  be  instantly  secured. 


Chapter  V:  The  Minister 
and  His  Official  Board 

In  practically  every  modern  form  of  local 
church  government  the  minister  finds  himself  in 
the  center  of  a  group  of  officials.  These  officials 
may  have  another  chairman  elected  but  this 
chairman  is  to  a  large  degree  dependent  upon  the 
minister  for  suggestions  as  to  the  purposes  of 
the  meeting.  In  other  churches  the  minister  will 
act  as  chairman  of  the  board.  There  are  advan- 
tages and  disadvantages  to  both  plans.  If  the 
minister  is  the  chairman  he  is  estopped  by  posi- 
tion from  arguing  from  the  floor  on  matters 
which  he  understands  better  than  any  one  else. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  he  is  on  the  floor  he  may 
lack  the  prestige  which  the  chairmanship  would 
give  him.  Then  again  the  personality  of  the  man 
may  decide  where  he  can  be  the  most  useful. 

But  wherever  he  is  placed,  he  is  looked  to  for 

51 


52      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

help  in  the  practical  points  of  the  discussion  and 
to  point  out  the  ways  of  accomplishment. 

There  are  six  principles  which  the  demo- 
cratic church  board  should  jealously  defend. 
They  are — 

1.  Free  and  open  discussion. 

2.  A  fair  and  honest  vote. 

3.  A  graceful  yielding  to  the  will  of  the  ma- 

jority. 

4.  Action. 

5.  Complete  records  of  proceedings. 

6.  An  understandable  report  of  its  activities 

to  the  congregation. 
The  violation  of  any  of  these  principles  is  apt 
to  cause  disorder  among  the  members  of  the 
boards  and  in  the  end  lack  of  confidence  on  the 
part  of  the  congregation. 

First  Step  that  of  Organization 

The  first  step,  of  course,  is  that  of  organiza- 
tion. The  church  laws  and  procedure  usually 
regulate  the  election  of  officers  and  assign  their 
duties.  Notices  of  the  first  meeting  should  be 
sent  out  by  mail  as  should  those  of  the  succeed- 
ing meetings.  There  have  been  several  ways  of 
notifying  members  of  the  meetings  to  be  held. 


Minister  and  His  Official  Board      53 

Some  of  these  are  indicated  in  reverse  order  of 
their  usefulness. 

1.  Have  no  regular  meeting  night  but  call 

people  up  when  a  meeting  is  desired. 

2.  Have  a  regular  meeting  night  and  expect 

all  to  remember  it. 

3.  Announce  it  from  the  pulpit.     If  a  man 

isn't  there  expect  his  wife  to  tell  him. 

4.  Notify  members  by  telephone  or  person- 

ally. 

5.  Mail  out  a  form  card  reminder  several 

days  before  the  meeting. 

6.  Send  out  an  announcement  by  mail  call- 

ing attention  to  the  items  of  business 
to  be  considered. 

Calvary  Presbyterian  Church 
Mr.  Robert  Minnes, 

48  Ducater  St. 
Dear  Mr,  Minnes: 

The  next  regular  meeting  of  the  church  ses- 
sion will  be  held  in  the  session  room  on  Mon- 
day evening,  April  8th.  Among  the  important 
matters  to  be  considered  are : 

1.    The  suspension  of  certain  members  ac- 
cording to  the  disciplinarian  form. 


54      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

2.  The  group  plan  of  organization. 

3.  Our  new  benevolent  quota. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Robert  Harness, 
Clerk. 

It  may  fall  to  the  task  of  the  church  office — 
it  doubtless  will  if  the  office  has  a  stenographer — 
to  prepare  these  forms  for  the  clerk,  but  experi- 
ence has  shown  that  any  announcement  less  than 
this  does  not  get  the  efficiency  that  this  plan  does. 
The  pulpit  announcement  reaches  but  a  few  peo- 
ple. The  personal  invitation  is  too  informal 
when  it  is  used  continuously  and  it  puts  too 
great  a  burden  upon  one's  time.  Telephone  calls 
are  not  very  effective.  Many  times  the  person 
sought  is  out  and  the  message  is  taken  by  some 
one  else.  The  formal  notice  from  printed  stock 
gets  to  be  an  old  story.  The  individual  notice 
is  the  best  for  getting  attendance  and  in  the 
failure  of  any  member  to  be  present  he  at  least 
knows  what  is  taking  place  so  that  he  cannot 
plead  ignorance  as  to  the  affairs  of  the  church. 

The  minister  will  see  that  a  proper  docket  for 
the  business  of  the  meeting  is  prepared.  This  is 
the  duty  of  the  chairman  and  the  clerk  but  the 


Minister  and  His  Official  Board      55 

wise  minister  will  know  how  to  prepare  the 
docket  he  wishes.  It  may  be  given  as  a  sugges- 
tion to  the  chairman  or  the  two  will  work  it  out 
together.  The  best  way  is  to  have  a  typewTitten 
or  printed  copy  of  this  docket  for  each  member 
as  he  comes  into  the  room.  A  less  effective  but 
satisfactory  way  is  to  use  a  black  board  to  get 
the  various  matters  before  the  meeting.  The 
docket  will  not  alone  give  the  members  the  items 
to  be  considered  but  will  unconsciously  remind 
them  that  there  is  need  of  deliberation  and  dis- 
patch to  accomplish  the  purpose  of  the  meeting. 
It  is  the  best  remedy  for  idle  talking  and  story 
telling  which  disgrace  so  many  meetings  that 
can  be  used.  No  one  is  going  to  ask,  "Have  we 
anything  else  to  consider?"  for  he  knows  just 
what  is  ahead. 

(Sample) 
Docket  for  meeting,  June  8. 
Reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting  for 
information. 

Reports  of  clerk  and  treasurers. 
Reports  of  special  committees. 

1.  On  men's  dinner. 

2.  On  summer  pulpit  supply. 


56      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

Old  Business. 

1.    Summer  Camp. 
New  Business. 

1.  Bills. 

2.  Sale  of  the  French  St.  Property. 

3.  Letting  contract  with  printer  for  weekly 

bulletin. 
Reading  of  minutes  for  approval. 

Be  Thorough 

Each  item  of  business  should  be  disposed  of 
before  the  next  is  considered  unless  there  is  a 
motion  to  change  the  order  for  some  valid  reason. 
When  the  time  for  adjournment  comes  every 
matter  should  be  in  its  place  as  distinctly  as  the 
mechanic  puts  his  tools  in  their  places.  The 
committees  which  have  reported  should  be  dis- 
charged. If  new  committees  are  to  be  appointed 
they  should  be  appointed  at  the  meeting  or  a 
definite  agreement  made  that  they  shall  be  ap- 
pointed at  such  a  time  as  is  most  convenient. 
The  appointment  of  committee  should  have  at 
least  as  much  publicity  as  the  decision  to  appoint 
such  a  committee. 

The  good  executive  should  have  the  motto 
"Finis"  constantly  before  his  mind.     We  lose 


Minister  and  His  Official  Board      SI 

more  in  church  work  by  starting  things  we 
never  finish  than  in  almost  any  other  way.  The 
work  of  the  board  must  be  driven  to  the  end. 
Committees  must  bring  in  reports  and  not  alone 
accept  appointments  for  certain  tasks.  From 
meeting  to  meeting  they  should  be  called  to  re- 
port progress  and  if  progress  cannot  be  made  a 
note  to  that  effect  should  be  in  the  records. 

One  of  the  most  successful  executives  that  the 
writer  knows  of  lays  considerable  emphasis  upon 
this  one  point.  The  officers  of  his  church  are 
supposed  to  reach  every  family  in  the  church 
before  each  communion.  The  post  communion 
meeting  takes  up  each  district  and  gets  a  re- 
port of  the  families.  If  one  officer  reports  a 
certain  family  as  ^'not  there,"  he  is  immediately 
instructed  to  find  out  where  it  is.  Thus  with 
an  insistence  on  the  finishing  up  of  the  work  but 
a  few  families  out  of  a  total  membership  of 
2400  are  out  of  touch  with  the  church  office. 

Members  who  do  not  attend  the  meetings  of 
the  board  should  eventually  be  dropped.  But 
they  should  be  retained  until  every  means  has 
been  tried  of  getting  them  to  seriously  act. 
Sometimes  the  clerk  of  the  meeting  prepares  a 
brief  synopsis  of  the  business  transacted  at  the 


58      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

meeting  and  mails  it  the  next  day  to  the  absent 
members.  Constant  reminders  such  as  the  in- 
dividual notice  and  the  report  of  the  business 
frequently  bring  results.  The  reader  is  urged 
to  study  Chapters  II  and  III  on  forces  which 
move  men  very  thoroughly  in  the  endeavor  to 
exhaust  every  drawing  force  which  is  moral  and 
legitimate  before  giving  up  any  case  as  hopeless. 

The  official  board  will  be  judged  by  the  con- 
gregation more  by  the  results  it  secures  than  by 
the  fairness  of  its  deliberations.  The  holding 
of  the  meetings  to  certain  rules  of  order  is  neces- 
sary for  the  maintaining  of  morale  in  the  body 
itself  but  its  work  cannot  stop  there.  I  have  in 
mind  a  certain  minister  who  as  he  was  leaving 
the  field  indulged  in  some  frank  statements  re- 
garding his  officers. 

"Yes,"  he  admitted.  "You  were  the  best 
group  of  voters  I  ever  knew.  You  always  voted 
me  permission  to  do  things." 

It  further  reminds  one  of  the  instance  where 
the  church  officers  voted  to  increase  the  salary 
of  the  minister. 

"Don't  do  it,  Brethren,  I  entreat  you.  I  have 
all  I  can  do  to  raise  my  present  salary.    I  am 


Minister  and  His  Official  Board      59 

sure  that  the  increased  burden  will  be  more  than 
I  can  stand.'' 

The  generally  accepted  way  to  get  the  neces- 
sary action  is  through  the  appointment  of  com- 
mittees and  their  work.  This  will  be  treated 
in  the  next  chapter. 


Chapter    VI:    Committee 
Organization  and  Manage- 
ment 

Function  of  Committees 

A  committee  is  appointed  to  get  something 
done.  But  there  seems  to  be  a  broadcast  opin- 
ion that  if  you  want  to  impede  the  progress  of 
any  movement  that  it  should  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  committee.  One  minister  insists 
that  a  committee  must  have  some  relation  with 
the  committal  service.  Once  committed  a  mat- 
ter is  surely  dead. 

A  bank  commissioner  in  Michigan,  who  had 
become  annoyed  at  the  intermediate  delays 
which  hampered  committee  work  in  public  or- 
ganizations, once  declared  that  he  might  define 
a  committee  as,  "A  thing  which  would  spend 
a  month  doing  what  one  man  would  accomplish 
in  a  forenoon." 

And  still  the  fact  remains  that  a  committee 
which  knows  its  business  and  knows  how  to  go 

60 


Committee  Organization  61 

at  it  to  get  action  is  the  most  direct  means  of 
reaching  the  desired  end. 

Special  and  Standing  Committee 

There  is  a  general  swing  to-day  in  favor  of 
special  committees  in  preference  to  standing 
committees.  Standing  committees  are  too  apt 
to  take  their  name  seriously  and  consider  immo- 
bility the  chief  virtue.  They  may  not  know  just 
when  their  task  begins  nor  where  it  ends.  A 
special  committee  on  the  other  hand  is  appointed 
for  a  certain  task.  Its  work  begins  when  the 
appointment  with  the  statement  of  purposes  is 
put  into  its  hands  and  its  work  is  finished  when 
it  makes  its  final  report  on  the  matter  submitted 
to  it.  If  a  standing  committee  should  prove  in- 
effective the  church  is  usually  helpless  until  the 
expiration  of  its  term  of  office.  If  a  special 
committee  proves  abortive  it  is  a  simple  matter 
to  call  for  a  report  and  discharge  it,  committing 
the  further  consideration  of  the  subject  to  an- 
other special  committee. 

When  the  Committee  Is  Named  Give  It  its  Task 
When  the  official  board  of  the  church  author- 
izes a  committee  it  does  so  for  a  certain  task  and 


62      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

the  committee  must  know  just  what  that  task 
is.  The  chairman  as  a  rule  will  appoint  the  com- 
mittee. Sometimes  the  motion  from  the  floor 
will  include  certain  names  which  are  to  be  in- 
cluded. At  other  times  the  minister  will  appoint 
the  committees.  A  very  wise  plan  is  to  have  a 
committee  on  committees.  This  would  be  one 
of  the  few  standing  committees  and  would  in- 
clude the  chairman  of  the  board  and  the  minister. 
They  must  appreciate  that  their  work  is  not 
done  when  a  committee  is  appointed.  They 
must  see  that  it  understands  its  task  and  that 
it  works.  Many  motions  are  made  in  a  hazy 
way  and  the  committee  may  be  misled  in  its 
task  unless  it  is  given  to  it  in  detail. 

Here  is  an  instance  of  a  church  which  voted 
at  a  men's  dinner  to  formally  organize  a  men's 
club  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  The  chairman  of 
the  meeting  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee. When  the  appointment  was  made  the 
following  note  was  mailed  to  the  chairman: 
"Dear  Sir: 

At  a  dinner  of  the  men  of  the  church 
held  on  Tuesday  last  a  committee  was  au- 
thorized for  the  following  purposes: 

1.    To  plan  and  provide  for  a  similar  din- 


Committee  Organization  63 

ner  in  the  fall  to  which  all  men  of  the  church 
should  be  invited. 

2.  To  provide  constitution  and  by-laws  for 
a  men^s  club  to  be  presented  for  their  consid- 
eration at  that  meeting. 

3.  To  nominate  officers  for  the  club,  these 
nominees  to  be  voted  on  at  that  meeting. 

You  have  been  appointed  as  chairman  of 
that  committee  with  the  following  men  to  as- 
sist you." 

Here  followed  the  names  of  the  men  on  the 
committee  and  the  letter  was  signed  by  the  chair- 
man of  the  meeting  authorizing  the  committee. 
With  this  statement  before  it  there  is  no  doubt 
in  the  mind  of  the  committee  as  to  its  duties  and 
its  limitations.  When  the  dinner  is  held  and 
action  taken  on  the  constitution  and  by-laws 
and  officers  elected,  the  committee  has  completed 
its  work.  The  directions  are  definite,  with  a  be- 
ginning and  an  end. 

Who  Shall  Serve  on  Committees 

It  requires  skill  to  appoint  working  com- 
mittees. Some  churches  would  require  all  com- 
mittees appointed  by  an  official  board  to  be 
members  of  that  board.     Others  are  satisfied 


64      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

with  a  chairman  from  the  board  and  the  com- 
mittee drawn  from  the  membership  at  large. 
The  broader  a  committee  is,  the  better  for  its 
work. 

1.  The  chairman  must  be  one  of  executive 
abihty,  who  knows  what  is  to  be  done  and  how 
to  do  it. 

2.  The  committee  should  be  broad  enough  in 
personnel  to  dissipate  any  complaint  of  clique 
control. 

3.  The  committee  should  always  be  ap- 
pointed with  the  future  in  mind.  The  eyes 
should  be  open  to  latent  material.  Give  new 
material  a  chance  to  develop.  When  a  person 
does  good  work  on  a  committee  try  him  higher 
up  next  time.    Keep  developing  leaders. 

Getting  the  Committee  Together 

Once  it  has  been  appointed  the  next  task  is 
to  get  the  committee  together  to  begin  its  work. 
In  the  instance  of  the  committee  just  appointed 
it  is  comparatively  easy  to  follow  it  in  its  pro- 
cesses. If  it  had  a  longer  and  harder  task  its 
work  would  be  more  complex  but  this  makes  an 
excellent  instance  for  illustrative  purposes. 

First,  the  members  must  be  notified.    Let  the 


Committee  Organization  65 

chairman  select  a  date  for  the  meeting  and  then 
send  a  note  to  each  member  similar  to  the  one 
which  was  sent  to  him.  The  first  meeting  may 
be  a  short  one  merely  for  organization  or  to 
decide  upon  a  time  when  all  could  devote  some 
time  to  the  proposition.  More  and  more  in 
the  cities  the  luncheon  hour  is  being  utilized  for 
such  meetings.  Where  that  is  impossible  an 
hour  from  an  evening  can  be  used  to  get  started. 

Step  by  Step  Analysis 

The  step  by  step  analysis  is  the  program  pre- 
pared by  the  chairman  for  the  progress  of  the 
committee.  The  minister  may  have  suggested 
the  program  for  his  consideration.  It  is  simply 
a  list  of  suggestions  for  the  meeting  to  act  on 
one  way  or  another. 

FIRST   MEETING 

1.  What  date  shall  we  decide  on  for  the  din- 
ner? 

2.  Shall  a  sub-committee  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  any  organization  which  might  care 
to  furnish  the  dinner? 

3.  Shall  a  sub-committee  be  appointed  to  se- 


66       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

cure  and  study  copies  of  the  constitution  and 
by-laws  of  various  church  clubs  for  men? 

4.  Shall  a  sub-committee:  be  appointed  to 
present  nominations  at  the  next  meeting  of  this 
committee? 

SECOND   MEETING 

1.  Report  of  the  various  sub-committees. 

(a)  Dinner. 

(b)  Constitution. 

(c)  Nominations. 

2.  Shall  we  appoint  a  committee  to  sell 
tickets  or  shall  the  whole  committee  act  as  a 
promotion  committee? 

3.  Shall  we  appoint  a  sub-committee  on  a 
program? 

When  the  dinner  is  held  and  the  reports  from 
the  committee  presented  and  accepted  the  com- 
mittee has  finished  its  work.  The  meeting 
should  vote  to  discharge  it  with  thanks. 

The  Chairman  Should  Analyze  His  Task 

The  good  chairman  is  usually  a  man  with  an 
analytic  mind.  He  must  be  able,  not  alone  to 
have  a  vision  of  the  work  which  is  his,  but  must 


Committee  Organization  67 

also  be  able  to  divide  the  work  into  practical 
details  among  the  members  of  the  committee. 
When  the  chairman  lacks  this  quality  the  result 
is  apt  to  be  that  he  does  all  of  the  work  with 
the  other  members  of  the  committee  looking  on. 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 
(3) 


Advertiset 


LADIES  AID 

(3) 


SESSION 

(3) 


LLmCHSON 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL 
(3) 


Enteriainment 


S  S  Trans  Tickets 


I  TICKETS         I 


COMMITTEE   ANALYSIS    IN    DIAGRAM 


Often  times  a  chairman  is  helped  by  pre- 
paring a  diagram  like  the  one  presented  here 
which  was  used  by  the  chairman  of  a  committee 
which  had  a  church  picnic  in  charge.  Here,  he 
has  his  work  divided  among  the  twelve  members 
of  the  committee.  It  is  an  aid  to  him  and  also 
helps  each  member  to  see  the  task  as  a  whole. 
Many  times  when  an  able  chairman  is  able  to 
carry  all  of  the  details  in  his  own  mind  such  a 


68      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

chart  will  help  to  bring  his  committee  to  an  ap- 
preciation of  its  responsibilities. 

Saying  ^^Thank  You''  Helps 

The  wise  executive  will  take  pains  to  thank 
the  chairman  of  a  committee  when  the  task  is 
finished.  Let  him  write  a  nice  note  of  appre- 
ciation. It  may  encourage  the  chairman  in  turn 
to  write  to  his  helpers.  Every  human  being 
likes  to  feel  that  he  has  done  his  task  well  and 
then — there  may  be  use  for  him  again  before 
many  months. 

Lucius  E.  Wilson  in  his  treatise  on  committee 
management  gives  a  warning  against  adjourn- 
ing without  deciding  upon  the  time  and  place 
of  the  next  meeting. 

*'One  important  point  to  bear  in  mind  is  that 
no  committee  should  ever  adjourn  before  de- 
termining the  time  and  place  of  the  next  meet- 
ing and  the  next  step  to  be  taken.  In  other 
words,  no  committee  must  be  permitted  to  in- 
dulge in  discussions  without  ending  that  discus- 
sion with  a  definite  decision,  even  if  the  de- 
cision be  no  more  than  the  determination  of  the 
next  meeting  and  the  next  step.  Discussion 
without  decision  is  demoralizing." 


Committee  Organization  69 

And  again  in  the  same  treatise. 

'The  bane  of  the  average  committee  is  aim- 
less discussion.  The  next  most  serious  draw- 
back is  a  member  with  a  faculty  for  telling  good 
stories.  He  is  usually  the  chap  who  fails  to  come 
to  the  next  meeting  because  the  one  which  he 
succeeded  in  breaking  up  did  not  amount  to 
much.  This  is  where  the  program  comes  in,  for 
it  permits  the  chairman  to  hold  the  committee 
to  its  task. 

'The  idea  for  the  secretary  to  have  in  mind 
in  connection  with  committee  meetings  is  this; 
— to  make  every  committee  a  real  event,  a  gath- 
ering for  the  discussion  of  a  vital  problem  at; 
which  measurable  progress  is  made/' 


Chapter  VII:   Keeping  in 

Touch  with  the 

Congregation 

Of  course  the  minister  must  not  be  so  con- 
fined to  the  work  of  his  board  and  committees 
that  he  forgets  that  he  has  a  congregation.  The 
rule  still  holds  that  a  minister  must  know  his 
people.  If  any  addition  has  been  made  to  the 
old  saying  of  a  "house  going  pastor  makes  a 
church  going  people"  it  is  that  the  minister  of 
to-day  always  has  some  task  to  keep  his  people 
busy  at.  The  minister  who  always  has  in  hand 
a  reserve  of  healthy  spiritual  tasks  for  his  people 
will  have  one  of  the  keys  of  parish  success. 

The  minister  who  insisted  that  anybody  who 
left  his  church  would  do  so  because  they  couldn't 
stand  the  pace  had  a  good  conception  of  human 
psychology.  People  may  be  easily  grieved  but 
they  will  hesitate  to  admit  that  the  reason  for 
their  grief  is  that  they  were  not  strong  enough 

70 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    71 

spiritually  to  take  their  places  in  the  ranks  of 
the  workers. 

A  reserve  of  good  healthy  tasks  may  also  help 
the  pastor  to  test  the  sincerity  of  many  of  his 
loudest  professors  of  righteousness.  A  story  is 
told  by  one  minister,  who  in  the  days  of  the  war 
found  a  very  patriotic  woman  who  was  not  sat- 
isfied with  the  government,  her  church  or  any- 
body except  herself.  Her  love  for  the  poor  sol- 
dierboys  was  immense. 

"I  would  be  so  glad  to  see  them  coming  back/' 
she  insisted,  "that  if  I  should  hear  to-day  that 
they  were  returning,  I  would  crawl  on  my  hands 
and  knees  for  miles  to  meet  them." 

"That  is  splendid,"  said  her  pastor,  "I  wish 
that  we  had  others  of  such  noble  sentiments.  I 
was  just  at  the  Red  Cross  rooms  and  they  have 
difficulty  in  finding  women  who  will  sacrifice  a 
little  time  to  knit.  I  will  have  to  tell  them  about 
you.  If  you  can't  get  to  the  rooms  the  yarn 
will  be  sent  to  you  here." 

"Oh,  don't  do  that,"  explained  the  woman. 
"You  see  I  have  a  big  house  and  I  couldn't  pos- 
sibly get  time  to  knit.  I  say,  let  them  that  have 
less  work  do  that." 

Another  minister  who  was  engaged  in  business 


72      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

operations  for  a  new  church  was  constantly  irri- 
tated by  a  man  of  the  congregation  who  kept 
coming  into  the  office  to  see  how  things  were 
going  and  offer  suggestions  and  criticisms.  The 
committee  was  having  difficulty  in  finding  a 
bank  to  finance  the  proposition  and  this  was  his 
particular  point  of  attack. 

The  minister  was  wise  enough  to  see  his  weak- 
ness and  had  him  appointed  on  a  special  finance 
committee.  He  visited  a  half-dozen  banks.  With- 
out a  good  conception  of  business  methods  he 
failed,  as  was  expected.  But  he  at  least  kept 
quiet  after  that. 

There  will  be  many  opportunities  of  the  per- 
sonal touch  in  the  average  congregation  which 
gives  the  minister  a  chance  to  test  his  skill  in 
handling  men  but  of  course  such  instances  can- 
not be  substituted  for  a  good  hold  on  a  con- 
gregation. Wise  and  wide  methods  are  neces- 
sary for  the  best  results.  The  congregation  must 
be  kept  informed  and  held. 

Pulpit  Announcements 

The  minister  may  utilize  the  time  given  for 
pulpit  announcements  to  talk  directly  to  his  con- 
gregation upon  vital  church  matters.    Some  min- 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    73 

isters  are  able  to  use  five  minutes  in  establish- 
ing an  almost  personal  relationship  with  the 
parish  in  that  way.  Policies  may  be  stated,  the 
congregation  admitted  into  the  working  secrets 
of  "the  board/'  reasons  for  certain  actions  ex- 
plained. Often  times  it  is  learned  that  members 
listen  more  intently  to  the  announcements  than 
to  the  sermon  which  is  afterwards  preached. 

There  will  of  course  always  be  announcements 
to  make  and  the  minister  can  have  his  judgment 
tested  in  the  time  he  takes  and  the  way  he  makes 
his  announcements.  It  has  become  a  thing  of 
the  past  for  commercial  circulars  to  unduly 
boast.  The  tone  of  the  best  advertising  of  to- 
day is  confidence.  Moderateness  in  announce- 
ments will  win  over  boastfulness  in  the  end.  And 
there  is  always  danger  of  the  minister  putting 
too  much  strength  behind  an  announcement  in 
order  to  attract  a  crowd. 

"Please  emphasize  this,"  people  will  say  when 
they  hand  him  an  announcement. 

But  if  he  is  wise  he  will  not  readily  yield  to 
the  giving  of  the  valuable  time  of  the  hour  of 
worship  for  a  lengthy  announcement  of  the  var- 
ious enterprises  of  the  church  or  various  so- 
cieties. 


74      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

Of  course  there  is  a  limit  to  the  pulpit  an- 
nouncement as  a  publicity  medium.  Seldom  is 
more  than  fifty  per  cent  of  the  congregation 
present  to  be  informed.  There  is  also  the  pos- 
sibility of  weak  ears  which  may  not  hear  cor- 
rectly. And  the  much  slighter  possibility  of  tired 
minds  which  will  not  comprehend  the  message 
which  is  being  given.  So  the  minister,  for  higher 
efficiency,  must  seek  elsewhere. 

The  Weekly  Bulletin 

The  bulletin  has  become  an  established  insti- 
tution with  many  churches.  They  vary  all  the 
way  from  the  one  sheet  announcer  to  an  eight  or 
ten  page  bulletin  giving  quick  complete  infor- 
mation on  the  various  church  activities.  In  one 
instance  we  have  seen  a  bulletin  which  carried 
a  complete  sermon  which  had  been  preached  the 
week  before.  The  bulletin  in  its  various  forms 
and  sizes  offers  a  large  opportunity  for  giving  in- 
formation to  the  membership  and  an  added  dig- 
nity to  the  services  of  worship. 

A  church  of  any  size  certainly  needs  a  bulle- 
tin to  keep  the  plans  for  the  week  before  the 
people  in  an  orderly  manner.    No  person  can 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    75 

listen  tc  eight  or  ten  announcements  and  be  able 
to  remember  them  all.  The  weakness  of  the 
bulletin  is  in  its  distribution.  If  a  copy  could  be 
mailed  to  each  home  on  Monday  morning  which 
was  not  represented  at  the  service  on  Sunday, 
the  efficiency  would  be  somewhat  increased. 

The  United  States  Mail 

The  mail  offers  the  opportunity  to  complete 
the  work  of  the  bulletin  by  getting  it  more 
largely  distributed.  It  will  offer  the  quickest 
and  most  effective  way  of  reaching  the  entire 
constituency  of  the  church  on  other  occasions. 
The  following  four  mailing  lists  are  suggested 
as  adapted  to  the  average  congregation. 

(a)  Families.  Expensive  matter  can  be  ef- 
fectively distributed  by  families  rather  than  as 
individuals. 

(b)  Communicants. 

(c)  Contributors. 

(d)  Congregation.  This  would  include  all 
of  (b)  and  (c)  and  other  names  of  men  and 
women  who  attend  or  are  likely  to  attend  the 
church  services.  This  list  contains  the  possi- 
bilities of  the  church's  future  growth. 


76      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

The  mail  can  be  used  for  pastoral  letters,  re- 
ports, announcements,  and  many  other  items 
of  interest.  With  the  smaller  churches  a  monthly- 
leaflet  distributed  by  mail  may  be  a  better  in- 
vestment than  a  weekly  bulletin.  The  small  bul- 
letin is  apt  to  give  half  of  its  space  for  the  order 
of  services  which  is  really  not  necessary  nor  help- 
ful to  the  average  worshiper. 

The  mail  offers  the  opportunity  for  a  wide  use 
of  the  referendum  ballot.  This  is  merely  a  ques- 
tionnaire sent  to  the  membership  at  various 
times  to  sense  the  public  sentiment  on  the  church 
policies.  The  ballot  is  mailed  out  from  the  office 
with  the  request  that  it  be  filled  in  and  returned. 
A  large  and  a  fair  vote  can  be  secured  in  that 
way.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  the  possibili- 
ties of  the  referendum: 

(Letter) 
Dear  Friend: 

The  board  is  undecided  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
a  special  series  of  revival  meetings  this  winter. 
We  need  new  life,  that  is  sure,  but  we  do  not 
know  how  to  get  it.  So  we  are  appealing  to 
the  congregation.  Will  you  give  us  some  ad- 
vice, using  the  enclosed  blank.    Return  it  be- 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    77 

fore  the  first  of  the  month  using  the  addressed 
envelope  enclosed. 

Very  sincerely, 


(Ballot) 

Are  you  in  favor  of  the  church  holding  a  series 
of  special  meetings  with  a  hired  evan- 
gelist? 

Should  we  hold  such  meetings  with  local  help 
only  ? ; 

Can  you  suggest  any  other  way  to  create  a  new 
interest  in  our  work? 

Signed. 

If  it  is  not  thought  advisable  to  sign  the  letters 
have  each  ballot  numbered  and  register  the  num- 
bers so  that  the  information  as  to  who  is  voting 
may  be  available.  This  is  important  in  case  a 
suggestion  is  made  which  may  be  acted  upon. 
The  person  making  the  suggestion  will  probably 
be  the  best  person  to  help  carry  out  the  plan. 

In  sending  out  any  list  of  material  by  mail  it 
is  well  to  always  have  one  piece  addressed  to  the 
church  or  to  the  minister's  residence.  This  is  a 
simple  and  effective  way  of  checking  up  on  Uncle 


78       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

Sam  to  learn  if  he  is  distributing  the  matter  as 
quickly  as  he  should. 

Pastoral  Visitation 

The  minister  still  visits.  The  report  of  a 
church  of  1500  with  two  ministers  shows  that 
1900  pastoral  calls  were  made  last  year.  The 
minister  of  a  church  of  1 200  who  has  served  the 
church  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
advises  that  he  still  keeps  his  schedule  of  call- 
ing on  each  family  once  a  year.  Probably  as  a 
rule  ministers  call  more  than  ever  before.  There 
may  be  a  difference  in  the  way  the  calls  are  made 
but  the  pastoral  work  of  the  average  church  is  a 
heavy  obligation. 

But  assume  that  the  minister  reaches  every 
family  at  least  once  a  year.  A  lot  of  things  can 
happen  in  a  year.  And  the  minister  is  aware 
that  he  does  not  begin  to  keep  in  touch  with  all 
of  the  instances  of  sickness,  trouble,  change  of 
residence,  business  success  or  failure  or  even 
death.  He  is  constantly  finding  himself  in  an 
embarrassing  position  when  he  makes  his  calls. 
A  parish  visitor  is  a  help  but  even  with  the  visitor 
there  are  too  many  opportunities  of  getting  out 
of  touch  with  the  congregation. 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    79 

Group  Plan  of  Organization 

The  situation  has  been  met  to  a  considerable 
degree  by  what  is  known  as  the  group  plan  of 
organization  or  the  every  member  group  plan. 
In  its  simplest  form  the  parish  is  divided  by  dis- 
tricts into  groups  and  a  person  appointed  as  over- 
seer over  each  district  thus  created.  The  work 
of  the  overseer  is  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  six  to 
ten  families  in  his  district,  reporting  items  of 
pastoral  interest  to  the  minister  of  the  church. 

In  the  more  complex  form  as  is  used  in  the 
larger  churches,  the  groups  are  larger  and  the 
overseer  or  captain  has  several  workers  under 
him.  His  group,  again,  is  divided  and  each 
worker  given  a  smaller  group  to  look  after.  The 
worker  reports  to  the  captain,  he  to  the  official 
board  of  the  church. 

The  introduction  of  the  group  plan  makes 
possible  the  operation  of  the  communion  card 
to  its  highest  degree.  The  communion  card  is 
a  development  from  the  communion  token  of  the 
old  countries  but  is  used  to  encourage  and  regis- 
ter attendance  at  the  services  when  the  sacra- 
ment is  administered.  There  is  a  card  kept  in 
the  church  office  with  the  record  attendance  of 


80      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

each  member.  Previous  to  the  communion  a 
duplicate  is  made  out  for  each  member.  These 
are  distributed  to  the  various  captains  who  will 
see  that  every  home  in  the  parish  is  visited  and 
the  card  left.  The  announcement  will  be  made 
of  the  service  and  the  communicant's  attention 
called  to  his  previous  record.  In  this  way  the 
homes  are  systematically  visited,  addresses 
checked  up  and  a  record  of  illness  and  absentees 
secured.  The  members  attending  the  com- 
munion service  bring  their  cards  with  them 
where  they  are  collected  and  returned  to  the 
church  office  for  recording. 

Every  Member  Visitation 

Another  method  frequently  used  to  help  out 
the  pastoral  work  is  an  every  member  visita- 
tion of  the  parish  on  a  selected  Sunday  afternoon 
by  specially  chosen  and  prepared  workers.  The 
parish  is  divided  and  the  visitors  sent  out  by 
twos.  The  method  of  selecting  and  training 
workers  will  follow  somewhat  that  of  conducting 
financial  campaigns.  A  study  of  the  chapter  of 
campaigns  will  help  one  to  secure  the  method  of 
organizing  for  this  work. 


Keep  in  Touch  with  Congregation    81 
Sample  Cards 


COMMUNICANT'S  CARD 

Walden  Presbyterian  Church         -         Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


•DO  THIS  IN   REMEMBRANCE  OF  ME" 


Addresa  _. _ 

District  No Visitor  _ 


Communion 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

Remarks 

First 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

Fifth 

Sixth 

NOTE:     Be  sure  to  place  this  card  od  the   collection    plate    Communion   Sunday. 

Members  absent  the  entire  year  from  the  Lord's  Table  without  eatisUctoiy  lea- 

ions,  are  regarded  by  the  Session  as  delinquents. 
Code^    (P)Pr«enl:    (A)  Absent  from  lown  ;    (S)  Sick  ;    (E)  olherwUe  Mcu»ed :    {Bl»nk)  No  record. 

communicant's  card  (Face  and  Back) 


Chapter  VIII:  A  Working 
Program  for  the  Church 

A  merchant  once  had  a  sale.  It  was  a  big 
event  for  his  store.  Old  customers  took  ad- 
vantage of  it  and  many  strangers,  intent  on  bar- 
gains, found  their  way  there.  When  the  sale 
was  over  the  strangers  came  back  no  more  while 
most  of  the  old  customers  stayed  on.  Things 
went  quickly  back  to  normalcy.  The  mistake 
of  the  merchant  is  apparent  to  every  business 
man.  It  was  not  a  part  of  a  constructive  pro- 
gram but  rather  a  stunt  by  itself.  The  ex- 
perience of  the  merchant  reminds  us  of  the 
experiences  of  many  churches. 

The  church  has  a  special  season.  Perhaps  it 
is  a  revival,  or  a  rally  day,  a  fete,  an  old  mem- 
ber reunion,  a  dedication,  or  a  hundred  other 
things.  It  is  a  big  event  in  itself  and  everybody 
gets  excited.    But  things  go  back  quickly.    When 

82 


Working  Program  for  the  Church      83 

the  evangelist  leaves  the  field  he  urges  the  church 
to  care  for  his  converts.  ^'I  have  done  my  part, 
now  you  must  do  yours,"  he  insists.  He  is  right. 
Churches  lose  more  by  spending  their  energy 
upon  stunts  than  in  most  any  other  way.  People 
get  to  expecting  something  new  and  novel  or  the 
church  interest  lags. 

It  is  told  that  in  one  of  the  churches  a  new 
minister  sought  to  interest  his  board  in  the  plans 
for  the  new  year.  He  suggested  several  plans 
and  none  of  them  met  with  whole-hearted  ap- 
proval. Finally  one  good  brother  gave  the  pic- 
ture of  the  situation. 

"We  have  tried  everything  that  we  have  ever 
seen  or  heard  of.  Unless  we  can  get  something 
new  and  novel,  I  suggest  that  we  spend  this 
year  trying  to  make  our  regular  services  as  in- 
teresting as  possible." 

The  layman  spoke  more  truly  than  he  imag- 
ined. There  is  a  danger  in  the  appeal  to  the 
novel  and  spectacular — unless  it  be  part  of  a 
broad  program  which  will  weave  all  of  the  ele- 
ments into  a  good  finished  piece  of  goods. 
Stunts  may  tide  a  church  over  a  few  hard  days 
but  a  real  program  of  activities  is  necessary  to 
give  a  permanent  and  constructive  success. 


84      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

What  Program  Shall  We  Have? 

There  are  several  major  lines  of  activity  which 
the  church  usually  engages  in.  But  in  selecting 
a  program  for  the  year,  it  is  well  to  have  one 
major  and  several  minor  activities.  A  church 
may  attempt  too  much  as  well  as  too  little.  The 
minister  is  apt  to  credit  the  human  mind  with 
more  ability  than  it  possesses.  It  takes  some 
time  and  training  after  the  mind  grasps  an  in- 
tellectual truth  before  it  becomes  a  moral  asset. 
It  is  not  valuable  for  religious  purposes  until  it 
passes  from  the  intellectual  to  the  moral.  Many 
programs  fail  because  the  church,  itself,  does  not 
understand  what  it  is  trying  to  do. 

Have  one  big  thing  which  it  is  trying  to  do  in 
the  year.    The  object  may  be: 

1.  Increase  in  church  membership. 

2.  Instituting  a  better  financial  system. 

3.  Improving  the  agencies  of  religious  educa- 

tion. 

4.  Creating  an  interest  and  enlarging  gifts  for 

the  benevolences  of  the  church. 

5.  Building  a  men's  organization. 

6.  Securing  civic  improvements. 


Working  Program  for  the  Church      85 

7.  Building  a  community  house  or  a  new 
church. 

Or  any  one  of  several  other  legitimate  activi- 
ties of  the  church. 

At  times  any  accepted  program  must  be 
thrown  aside  for  an  emergency  program.  The 
building  may  burn.  At  once  the  new  building 
becomes  the  major  plank  of  the  program.  The 
surprise  which  is  often  times  expressed  when  a 
weak  church  rallies  at  the  time  of  the  fire  is 
natural.  But  the  strength  shown  is  but  an  in- 
dication of  the  moral  strength  of  any  church 
when  everybody  is  agreed  upon  the  program  of 
activities. 

Whose  Program  Is  It? 

The  instance  above  suggests  that  the  strength 
of  a  church  depends  upon  the  unanimity  with 
which  the  program  of  the  church  is  adopted.  A 
minister  may  be  able  to  demonstrate  to  the  sev- 
eral senses  the  wisdom  of  any  program  which 
he  may  like  to  have  the  church  adopt  but  unless 
it  is  really  desired  by  the  church  his  talk  and 
labor  are  apt  to  be  fruitless.  There  must  be  more 
or  less  smiling  in  the  heart  of  the  congregation 
when  a  minister  arises  in  the  pulpit  and  an- 


86       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

nounces  that  the  church  is  going  to  do  so-and-so. 
The  men  in  the  pews  know  better  than  the 
preacher  just  what  the  church  will  do. 

It  may  be  possible  for  the  referendum  ballot 
to  help  reach  a  decision  as  to  what  the  program 
of  a  church  should  be.  The  American  City 
Bureau  in  its  course  for  instruction  of  commer- 
cial secretaries  places  much  strength  in  this 
method  of  learning  the  wishes  of  the  members. 
A  letter  with  a  ballot  might  be  sent  out  asking 
each  member  to  tell  what  he  thinks  is  the  big 
work  for  the  church  for  the  year.  If  a  record  is 
kept  of  the  votes  and  voters  the  minister  will 
know  where  to  go  to  get  help  from  those  who 
advocated  certain  lines  of  activity. 

Whether  this  plan  is  followed  or  not  it  is  al- 
ways well  to  be  sure  that  the  heart  of  the  church 
is  with  the  program  which  is  being  attempted. 

Take  Time  to  Do  It  Well 

Don't  try  to  do  a  year's  work  in  a  month. 
Psychological  processes  like  agricultural  process 
take  time.  Each  month  should  record  progress 
but  too  rapid  progress  like  too  fast  ripening  fruit 
denotes  an  abnormal  condition.  The  church 
like  the  individual  which  tries  to  be  a  "jack  of 


Working  Program  for  the  Church       87 

all  trades"  will  probably  be  master  of  none. 
Having  decided  upon  a  major  plank  place  that 
ahead  of  all  things  else.  Remember  that  after 
all  a  year  in  the  kingdom  of  God  is  a  short  time. 
Make  it  count  for  thoroughness  rather  than  for 
motion. 

Any  program  which  is  selected  will  require 
more  or  less  publicity  before  the  congregation 
will  comprehend  it.  Get  people  thinking  about 
it  and  don't  accept  hasty  opinions  as  final.  Re- 
member the  husbandman  in  the  parable  who 
sowed  the  seed  and  then  slept  and  rose  night  and 
day  but  the  seed  grew  of  itself.  Give  the  seed  a 
chance  to  grow.  Don't  give  the  battle  call  be- 
fore the  troops  are  ready.  Don't  kill  the  goose 
which  lays  the  golden  eggs.  Study  mental  reac- 
tions and  depend  on  them  as  the  savage  does  in 
physical  force  or  the  chemist  on  acids  and  poison. 

At  a  recent  Sunday  school  convention  a  worker 
made  a  confession  which  ministers  would  do  well 
to  heed.  He  had  a  program  for  his  Sunday 
school.  It  included  the  grading  of  the  school. 
He  asked  for  its  adoption  and  as  usual  was 
granted  the  thing  he  asked  for.  That  was  easy. 
At  that  time  he  couldn't  see  why  every  school 
could  not  be  graded  as  easily  as  his.     But  his 


88      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

troubles  were  just  beginning.  He  was  dealing 
with  a  village  church  which  knew  little  about  the 
gradations  familiar  to  the  city  teacher  and 
pupil.  They  wanted  to  do  the  right  thing  but 
they  did  not  understand.  People  must  learn 
some  things  for  themselves.  As  a  result  in  the 
end  the  school  went  back  to  the  old  form  of  or- 
ganization and  methods. 

Asked  what  he  would  do  if  he  had  another 
chance,  the  worker  replied: 

"I  would  take  at  least  a  year  in  an  attempt  to 
give  the  leaders  of  that  school  an  adequate  idea 
of  what  we  were  trying  to  do." 

The  chances  are  that  if  he  had  taken  the  year 
that  he  would  not  have  had  to  urge  the  change 
but  that  the  school  would  have  demanded  it. 

The  executive  must  have  the  quality  of  divine 
patience.  This  chapter  offers  no  solace  to  the 
individuals  who  delight  in  monotony  and  idle- 
ness. A  church  should  register  progress  every 
month.  But  it  is  a  plea  for  the  natural  laws  to 
have  time  to  work.  Watch  Cromwell  as  he  held 
back  his  impatient  Ironsides  until  the  time  was 
ready  for  them  to  strike.  Learn  the  lesson  of 
the  driver  who  will  not  let  his  horse  kill  itself  in 
the  first  quarter  of  the  mile.    Learn  the  lesson 


Working  Program  for  the  Church      89 

of  patience  and  time.  Any  church  will  be  sat- 
isfied if  it  can  do  one  big  worth-while  thing 
every  year. 

The  Seasonable  Program 

The  church  year  like  the  agricultural  year  di- 
vides itself  into  seasons.  The  department  store 
learns  the  lessons  of  the  seasons  and  times  the 
appeal  of  its  show  windows.  So  the  minister  will 
time  the  appeal  which  the  church  makes. 

"The  farm  year  begins  with  the  spring  and 
ends  with  the  autumn.  The  church  year  with 
equal  distinctness  begins  with  the  autumn  and 
ends  with  or  at  least  finds  its  climax  in  the 
spring."    McGarrah,  A  Modern  Church  Program. 

THE  SEASONS  OF  THE  CHURCH  YEAR 

Autumn. — The  new  chance  which  is  offered 
every  minister.  The  season  for  the  beginning 
of  things  and  the  getting  of  everybody  back  to 
church. 

The  Winter. — Social  season.  Revival  and 
extra  services.  Everybody  at  work  in  the  organ- 
ization. 

The  Spring. — The  spiritual  touch.  The 
Easter  ingathering. 


90       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

The  Summer. — Vacation  Bible  schools.  Re- 
laxation. Planning  for  the  new  year.  The  sum- 
mer is  to  the  minister  as  the  winter  is  to  the 
farmer. 

A  Yearly  Program 

Purpose  of  major  plank:     To   increase    the 

membership  of  the  church  to members. 

This  object  was  discussed  in  the  preceding  year 
and  adopted  in  the  spring  by  the  official  board 
of  the  year  as  a  program  for  the  following 
year. 

1.  The  month  of  September  is  the  month  for 
training.  The  congregation  is  informed  of  the 
plans  through  the  sermons.  Personal  workers 
are  secured  for  an  every  member  visitation. 

2.  The  every  member  visitation  is  made  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  October.  The  rally  day  is 
the  Sunday  following.  The  visitors  urge  all 
members  to  be  present  at  that  service. 

3.  Rally  Day.  An  immediate  goal  is  pres- 
ented for  an  increase  in  the  church  attendance. 
Members  present  are  asked  to  make  pledges  to 
be  made  in  service.    The  pledges  are: 

(a)  To  attend  one  service  every  Sunday. 

(b)  To  attend  two  services  every  Sunday. 


Working  Program  for  the  Church      91 

(c)  To  invite  a  non-member  each  week  to 

attend  as  a  friend. 

(d)  To  serve  on  a  personal  visitation  com- 

mittee under  the  direction  of  the  pas- 
tor. 

(e)  To  pray  for  the  success  of  the  campaign. 

4.  Letters  containing  the  pledge  cards  were 
mailed  to  all  members  who  were  not  present. 

5.  The  church  organized  socially  for  get-to- 
gether parties.  A  special  effort  is  always  made 
to  interest  prospective  members  in  these  parties. 

6.  The  formation  of  prospective  member 
lists.  These  lists  are  prepared  in  confidence  and 
given  out  to  pledges^  workers  only.  The  workers 
meet  for  several  weeks  for  instruction  in  their 
work. 

7.  The  week  of  prayer — ^passion  week.  In- 
tense personal  work. 

8.  The  Easter  ingathering. 

This  program  carried  out  faithfully  with  the 
variations  which  are  necessary  for  local  condi- 
tions has  helped  many  churches  to  increase  their 
membership.  The  author  used  it  in  the  year  of 
1917-18  with  an  increase  of  61  per  cent  in  the 
church  membership.  Correspondence  with  other 
churches  the  following  year  showed  that  it  was 


92      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

used  successfully  by  churches  all  over  the  coun- 
try, in  cities  and  villages. 

It  is  a  program  for  but  one  year  and  some 
other  phase  of  church  work  should  have  the 
major  interest  the  following  year.  Either  the 
financial,  benevolent  or  religious  education  pro- 
gram would  follow  very  well. 


COUPONS 


No.  1 

One  Service  Eacb 
Sunday 


No.  2 

ivfo  Services  Each 
Sunday 


No.  3 

Invite  Someone  to 
Accompany  Me 


No.  4 

Serve  on  Visitation 
Committee 


No.  5 

Daily  Prayer 


HERE  IS  A  TYPICAL  LOYALTY  BOND  TO  BE  USED  IN  CAMPAIGNS  FOR  BETTER  CHURCH 

ATTENDANCE.      THIS   ONE  IS   PRINTED  ON   A   GOOD   GRADE  OF   SAFETY  PAPER 

WHICH    AIDS   TO    MAKE  IT  LOOK   LIKE  A  COMMERCIAL  BOND 


Chapter  IX:  The  Financial 
Campaign 

Following  the  form  of  treatise  in  the  other 
chapters  of  the  book  this  chapter  devoted  to  the 
financial  campaigns  lays  down  the  principles  for 
all  other  campaigns  of  the  church.  Especially 
should  the  preceding  chapter  be  related  to  this 
for  a  campaign  can  never  exist  apart  from  the 
program  of  work  of  the  church.  It  is  a  special- 
ized form  coming  at  the  right  time  with  the 
field  properly  prepared  for  it.  The  campaign 
implies  intensive  team  work.  It  is  the  day  of 
the  test — of  the  race.  But  all  days  leading  up 
to  it  are  important  as  are  the  days  which  follow. 

If  in  the  preceding  chapter  the  program  of 
work  had  dealt  with  a  financial  program  rather 
than  the  program  for  increasing  the  membership 
it  would  likewise  have  covered  the  church  year. 
There  would  be  the  consideration  by  the  trustees 
for  the  needs  of  more  revenue  and  an  increasing 
emphasis  upon  the  obligation  of  stewardship. 

93 


94      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

The  sermons  in  the  fall  would  be  devoted  to  it. 
Constant  illustrations  would  show  the  duty  and 
pleasure  of  giving.  Classes  would  study  books 
on  stewardship  such  as  McConaughy's  Money, 
the  Acid  Test,  Publicity  matter  dealing  with 
the  church  dollar  would  be  used.  In  fact  the 
whole  machinery  of  the  church  would  make  that 
phase  of  church  work  the  major  plank  for  the 
year  leading  up  to  the  canvass.  The  campaign 
itself  is  the  intensive  day  or  week  which  tells. 

The  preliminary  work  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee will  consist  in  preparing  an  adequate  bud- 
get for  the  following  year  and  a  comprehensive 
report  of  the  moneys  contributed  for  the  year 
that  is  passed.  It  will  include  a  tabulation  on 
cards  of  the  contributions  of  each  member  which 
may  be  put  in  the  hands  of  the  solicitor.  Also 
the  necessary  pledge  cards  and  envelopes  will 
be  taken  care  of  in  advance.  A  good  form  of 
solicitor's  cards  with  information  regarding  each 
family  to  be  visited  is  shown  by  the  sample  card. 

Sample  Card 

These  cards  can  be  filled  out  in  advance  in  the 
church  office  which  will  take  charge  of  most  of 
the  printed  distribution  of  the  campaign. 


The  Financial  Campaign  95 


Tnm:;^;"    solicitor's  CAJ<I>-Oinrtdential 


i! 

•wtEKLY  SOaSCRimON 

U-T- 

Ttil  «M 

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Ct 

,«.. 

t.|B.«.. 

Ok. 

HioUod 

Wif. 

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CMd<«,..hU» 

Ag. 

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— 

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Oti^r.  U,  H^u^old 

— 

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.  T'^'^"  ran««.«i»« 


solicitor's  card  (Face  and  Back) 


96      How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

Getting  Workers 

The  printed  matter  on  hand,  the  budget 
adopted,  the  next  step  is  the  appointment  of  a 
special  campaign  committee.  The  chairman  of 
this  committee  will  need  to  be  a  leader  in  the 
largest  sense  for  he  will  have  the  large  working 
force  under  him  for  the  time  of  organization 
and  the  day  of  the  campaign.  Having  ac- 
cepted the  appointment  the  next  thing  is  to  get 
the  workers. 

The  practical  way  to  do  this  is  to  take  the  list 
of  the  men  of  the  church  and  count  every  one 
as  a  possible  worker  in  the  campaign.  It  is  safe 
to  assume  that  all  will  not  work  but  the  more  who 
volunteer  the  quicker  and  cleaner  the  work  can 
be  conducted.  A  letter  can  be  prepared  to  be 
mailed  to  these  prospects.  If  a  dinner  or  lunch- 
eon can  be  planned  for  the  time  of  the  meeting 
for  instructions  the  volunteers  are  apt  to  be 
more  numerous. 
Dear  Friend: 

The  trustees  of  the  church  recently  voted  to 
hold  the  annual  every-member  canvass  of  the 
congregation  on  Sunday  afternoon,  March 
6th,  and  I  was  appointed  as  chairman  of  the 


The  Financial  Campaign  97 

special  committee  to  direct  the  canvass.  We 
plan  to  make  it  complete  in  the  afternoon  and 
to  report  at  the  church  at  6:  30  o'clock  that 
evening.  With  fifteen  teams  of  two  men  each 
we  can  easily  cover  the  parish  in  the  after- 
noon. 

You  have  been  selected  as  a  member  of  one 
of  these  teams.  A  preliminary  meeting  of  all 
of  the  workers  has  been  called  for  Wednesday 

evening  at  8  o'clock.    Mr. has  asked 

us  to  be  his  guests  at  a  dinner  to  be  held 
at  that  hour.  The  budget  will  be  talked  over 
and  the  lists  assigned  to  the  workers.  He  is 
planning  for  a  place  for  you  at  the  table  that 
night,  so  be  sure  to  be  there.  If  you  cannot, 
let  me  know. 

Very  sincerely, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee. 

The  men  who  will  respond  to  the  dinner 
invitation  will  be  practically  the  men  who  will 
be  on  hand  for  the  canvass.  Copies  of  the  new 
budget  should  be  explained  and  the  forms  of  the 
cards  to  be  used  discussed.  If  the  church  has 
the  group  plan  organization  captains  for  the 


98       How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

various  territories  may  be  assigned  at  that  time. 
If  they  are  to  go  out  two  by  two,  reporting  to  a 
common  head,  the  territory  can  be  held  until 
later.  If  necessary  a  second  meeting  for  in- 
struction should  be  held.  It  is  well  to  impress 
upon  the  workers  what  the  average  pledge  must 
be  to  raise  the  budget  desired. 

Notifying  the  Congregation 

Carefully  prepared  publicity  distributed  to 
the  members  of  the  church  will  help  pre- 
pare the  ground  for  the  workers.  At  least  one 
letter  should  be  sent  to  contributors  notifying 
them  of  the  date  of  the  canvass  and  enclosing  a 
copy  of  the  budget  for  their  consideration.  The 
church  seldom  loses  by  letting  the  contributors 
know  what  the  money  is  wanted  for.  Open 
diplomacy  pays  in  church  relationship.  Here 
is  a  good  type  of  a  letter  to  use  in  writing  con- 
tributors: 

Dear  Friend: 

The  Every-Member  Canvass  of  the  congre- 
gation will  be  made  next  Sunday  afternoon. 
The  budget  enclosed  is  the  goal  to  be  reached 
in  the  campaign. 


The  Financial  Campaign  99 

There  are  several  things  which  you  can  do 
to  help  make  the  effort  a  success. 

1.  Be  at  home  if  possible.  Our  canvassers 
have  a  right  to  expect  to  complete  their  work 
in  the  day.  Like  the  rest  of  us  they  are  busy 
men.  If  you  can't  be  at  home  that  day  make 
your  pledge  before  Sunday  or  Sunday  morn- 
ing. We  want  to  count  it  in  the  total  sub- 
scribed for  the  day. 

2.  Study  the  budget.  There  are  no  frills 
in  it.  If  it  isn't  covered  by  pledges,  essentials 
will  have  to  be  cut  out  of  the  church  program. 

3.  Make  an  honest  pledge  for  both  the 
local  church  and  benevolences.  The  policy  of 
the  Protestant  church  is  not  to  place  heavy 
burdens  upon  its  people  but  it  has  a  right  for 
honest  consideration  of  its  needs. 

4.  Keep  pleasant  and  send  the  workers  on 
their  way  with  a  smile.  "The  Lord  loveth 
a  cheerful  giver." 

Yours  for  the  success  of  the  drive, 

Chairman,  Special  Committee, 

The  Day  of  the  Campaign 
The  canvassers  will  attend  the  morning  wor- 


100    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

ship  and  come  to  the  altar  at  the  close  for  ded- 
ication to  their  task.  They  will  receive  sufficient 
pledge  cards  and  will  have  the  information  card 
for  every  party  they  are  to  call  upon.  The  en- 
tire morning  service  can  well  be  devoted  to  the 
thought  of  stewardship  or  the  particular  task  of 
the  local  church. 

Have  a  dinner  for  the  solicitors  at  the  church 
upon  their  return  at  6:30  o'clock  or  at  some 
other  convenient  hour.  The  secretary  of  the 
committee  can  tabulate  by  means  of  a  black 
board  the  returns  as  they  come  in.  Playing 
group  off  against  group  will  add  to  the  interest 
which  is  usually  developed.  Canvassers  will  be 
inspired  to  rush  right  back  to  see  if  absentees 
have  returned  home.  The  force  of  competition 
will  bring  the  last  one  in  at  a  time  like  this. 

It  may  be  well  to  warn  against  expecting  let- 
ters by  themselves  to  get  results  in  a  canvass 
such  as  this.  The  letters  prepare  the  way.  Per- 
sonal solicitation  gets  the  results.  Letters  do 
not  have  the  appeal  that  they  had  before  the 
frequent  use  which  is  made  of  them  to-day.  A 
great  public  service  corporation  has  just  opened 
its  stock  books  to  the  public.  84,000  letters  were 
sent  out  to  prospective  buyers.    But  100  people 


The  Financial  Campaign  101 

responded.  A  brokerage  house  reports  that  it 
sent  out  600  letters  to  prospective  customers  and 
had  six  repHes.  Letters  have  a  big  place  but  they 
must  be  followed  by  personal  workers. 

After  the  Canvass 

Tabulate  the  returns  so  that  they  will  be 
available  for  everybody. 

Make  sure  that  you  have  a  system  of  book- 
keeping which  the  contributors  will  have  confi- 
dence in. 

File  the  solicitors'  cards  for  the  next  year. 

Thank  the  canvassers. 


Chapter  X:  A  News  Space 
Clinic 

The  public  press  may  well  be  a  big  asset  to 
the  average  working  church.  It  offers  one  of 
the  best  channels  for  the  distribution  of  inter- 
esting events  and  features  of  church  life.  Many 
criticisms  are  made  of  various  papers  because 
of  the  little  space  which  they  give  to  church 
news.  Many  of  these  criticisms  are  unfair  and 
are  made  by  men  who  do  not  understand  the 
spirit  of  the  paper  nor  the  pressure  under  which 
the  average  editor  works.  It  is  not  difficult  for 
the  paper  to  get  stories  to  fill  its  pages.  Even 
if  the  average  daily  did  not  employ  a  single  re- 
porter there  would  be  plenty  of  news  presented 
by  various  individuals  and  institutions  to  fill  the 
columns  if  that  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  make 
a  paper. 

The  average  editor  wants  news  and  he  wants 
interesting  feature  stories.  If  he  can  get  them 
he  will  publish  them  whether  they  deal  with  the 
church  or  not.    If  the  churchmen  can  point  out 

102 


A  News  Space  Clinic  103 

real  stories  of  news  value  there  will  be  little  diffi- 
culty in  breaking  into  the  pages  of  the  average 
daily  paper  of  to-day. 

Country  and  Village  Journals 

The  same  thing  is  not  always  true  of  rural 
papers.  Many  times  they  lack  material  to  fill 
their  pages.  Some  buy  the  matter  from  syndi- 
cates already  blocked.  That  saves  typesetting 
and  labor  costs.  Here  is  an  opportunity  for 
the  minister  and  church  to  keep  itself  constantly 
before  the  eyes  of  the  villagers.  The  average 
country  paper  runs  a  church  column.  This  col- 
umn gives  the  hours  of  service  and  some  times 
makes  the  announcements  for  the  week.  Too 
often  this  is  thought  sufficient  but  it  is  not  mak- 
ing the  most  of  the  offered  space. 

The  minister  would  do  well  to  go  to  the  pub- 
lisher and  ask  him  if  he  will  give  space  to  inci- 
dents and  even  sermonettes  given  in  a  catchy 
way  which  will  make  people  read  them.  The 
manager  of  a  vaudeville  house  insists  that  he 
would  be  glad  to  put  a  minister  on  the  program 
if  he  can  find  one  who  will  deliver  a  punchy  ser- 
mon in  ten  minutes  which  will  make  people 
think.    The  average  newspaper  manager  will  do 


104    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

as  well.  These  items  may  advertise  the  church 
for  people  will  read  them  if  they  are  gotten  out 
in  a  pleasing  way.  We  clip  the  following  from 
a  rural  weekly.  It  was  one  of  many  published 
in  the  church  column : 

The  following  things  help  to  make  worship 
worth  while : 

1.  A  pleasant,  artistic  and  dignified  building 

with  good  light  and  ventilation. 

2.  Courteous  ushers  who  do  something  be- 

sides passing  the  collection  plate. 

3.  Good  music.     Anthems  which  touch  the 

heart  and  hymns   which    mean    some- 
thing. 

4.  Sermons  which  are  thought  provoking  and 

alive,  but  always  reverent  and  worship- 
ful. 

5.  A  real  welcome.    Not  the  formal  icy  grip, 

but  that  which  makes  one  feel  at  home. 

6.  A  pleasant  after  feeling.     Coming  out  of 

church  ought  not  to  be  like  coming  out 
from  an  anaesthetic. 
We  want  our  services  to  measure  up  to  this 
standard.    Help  us  do  it. 

Come  early  if  you  want  a  back  seat. 


A  News  Space  Clinic  105 

An  article  like  the  above  is  read  and  it  violates 
no  standards  of  good  taste. 

Some  churches  have  found  that  a  series  of 
questions  are  usually  thought  provoking  and 
create  an  interest.  Rev.  Paul  F.  Boiler  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Lancaster,  New  York, 
has  devoted  his  evening  services  to  the  answer- 
ing of  questions  placed  in  the  question  box  by 
the  congregation.  He  insists  that  the  fact  of 
the  publication  of  the  questions  the  preceding 
week  in  the  local  paper  has  made  the  success  of 
the  services  possible. 

In  one  issue  we  find  the  following  questions 
submitted  for  answer  by  the  pastor: 

1.  Are   labor   unions   selfish?     Are   they  a 

menace  to  America? 

2.  What  are  some  of  the  conditions  necessary 

for  a  happy  marriage? 

3.  How  do  you  account  for  the  present  dearth 

of  candidates  for  the  Christian  minis- 
try? 

4.  What    do    Presbyterians    to-day   believe 

about  ^'Predestination" ? 
5. ,  Some  times  we  hear  people  speak  of  God 
as  being  far  off  in  the  skies  and  again 


106    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

he  is  referred  to  as  being  on  this  earth. 
If  there  is  a  God  where  is  he? 


An  announcement  such  as  this  given  week  by 
week  cannot  but  help  to  create  an  interest  in 
those  services  of  the  church.  There  is  some- 
thing about  a  question  which  will  set  a  person 
thinking  more  than  a  simple  statement.  A  single 
sermon  may  be  announced  by  a  series  of  ques- 
tions rather  than  by  the  subject  alone. 

Whose  World  Is  This? 

"Does  there  ever  come  a  time  in  human  his- 
tory when  God  intervenes  in  the  affairs  of 
men?  Is  it  true  that  at  times,  tired  of  blood- 
shed and  wickedness  that  He  overrules  hu- 
man agencies  for  the  sake  of  righteousness? 
What  about  Joan  of  Arc?  What  of  Provi- 
dence spring?  What  about  Georges  Guy- 
nemer?  These  fascinating  stories  form  a  part 
of  the  sermon  at  the  First  Methodist  church 
next  Sunday  night." 

The  editor  of  the  local  paper  wants  people  to 
read  the  paper  and  he  is  usually  in  sympathy 
with  all  village  institutions.    Help  him  to  make 


A  News  Space  Clinic  107 

his  paper  interesting  by  making  the  church  an- 
nouncements interesting  and  both  church  and 
paper  will  profit. 

Getting  Into  the  City  Papers 

Many  churches  pay  for  display  space  in  the 
Saturday  papers  of  each  week.  The  rates  vary 
according  to  circulation  of  the  paper  and  the 
real  value  of  the  advertisements  is  as  yet  prob- 
lematical. It  will  depend  a  great  deal  upon  the 
location  of  the  church  and  just  what  they  have 
to  advertise.  It  is  generally  conceded  that  the 
story  space  in  a  newspaper  is  better  publicity  for 
any  institution  than  the  paid  display  space.  Any 
theater  would  prefer  to  have  the  pictures  of  its 
players  shown  in  the  dramatic  columns  than  to 
have  a  similar  amount  of  display  advertising. 

A  visit  to  the  office  of  the  average  newspaper 
concerning  space  will  invariably  bring  the  answer 
that  anything  that  has  news  value  will  be  used. 
There  is  however  apt  to  be  considerable  differ- 
ence of  opinion  between  the  churchman  and  the 
editor  as  to  what  constitutes  news  value.  The 
churchman  may  be  right  but  the  editor  controls 
the  paper  and  is  in  the  better  position  to  decide 
what  people  care  to  read.     The  wise  minister 


108     How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

will  recognize  the  editor's  position  and  respect 
his  judgment. 

The  editor  means  by  news  any  story  which 
has  sufficient  human  interest  to  cause  people  to 
read  it.  The  newspaper  is  not  a  literary  maga- 
zine. It  has  one  big  function — that  of  publishing 
news.  Sermons  are  not  news,  even  though  they 
be  good  enough  for  the  homiletic  magazine. 
Discussions  are  not  news.  Conventions  are  only 
news  when  the  human,  interest-drawing  element 
enters  in.  Usually  it  is  there  if  one  knows  how 
to  look  for  it. 

There  may  be  big  news  value  in  a  sermon. 
Let  us  suppose  that  Dr.  Blank  wants  to  preach 
a  sermon  on  blue  laws.  The  main  point  he 
wants  to  make  is  that  Christ  was  an  enemy  of 
Sabbath  blue  laws  and  violated  the  letter  of 
several.  Dr.  Blank  feels  that  he  has  a  mes- 
sage which  the  people  should  know  about  and 
sends  a  copy  of  his  sermon  to  the  press.  It  isn't 
printed  and  he  feels  grieved.  Let  us  suggest  a 
new  way  to  Dr.  Blank.  Send  the  sermon  a 
couple  of  days  ahead  of  time  to  the  editor  of  the 
paper.  With  it  enclose  a  letter  calling  attention 
to  the  main  point.  Mark  with  pencil  two  or 
three  passages  which  present  the  matter  in  quick 


A   News  Space  Clinic  109 

telling  strokes.    The  chances  are  that  it  will  have 
space  in  the  Monday  paper. 

Billy  Sunday  always  gets  news  space.  The 
tabernacle  meetings  are  news.  But  Billy  Sun- 
day does  not  wait  for  the  paper  to  visit  the  meet- 
ings to  take  the  sermons  in  short  hand.  As  good 
news  value  as  his  meetings  are  he  always  pre- 
pares copy  for  the  paper  and  has  it  on  hand  the 
day  before.  He  makes  it  easy  for  the  papers  to 
feature  his  work. 

Finding  the  News  Feature 

As  a  newspaper  writer  the  author  was  once 
under  contract  to  present  the  work  of  a  denomi- 
nation week  after  week  for  newspaper  publi- 
cation. The  understanding  was  that  the  ar- 
ticles were  to  stand  or  fall  on  their  story  value. 
Yet  the  subjects  included  many  things  which 
might  not  look  like  news  at  first  glance. 

For  instance,  one  of  the  churches  to  be  ad- 
vertised in  news  space  was  about  to  build  a  new 
community  house.  It  had  outgrown  its  quarters. 
There  were,  of  course,  dozens  of  churches  in  the 
city  which  were  in  a  similar  condition.  Some 
people  expressed  surprise  that  this  church,  with 
its  bad  location  next  to  the  baseball  park  should 


110    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

care  to  invest  more  money  on  its  present  noisy 
site. 

That  in  itself  made  the  story.  Investigation 
showed  that  the  church  had  bought  ground  from 
the  ball  club  for  its  proposed  structure.  We  have 
always  heard  of  churches  retreating  before  base- 
ball parks  but  here  is  one  actually  encroaching 
on  the  ball  ground.  With  that  "slant"  it  made 
a  good  story.  The  headlines  the  editor  used, 
for  the  editor  always  writes  the  headlines,  were: 

Church  Encroaches  on  Baseball  Park  by 
Community  Work 


COVENANT  PRESBYTERIAN  SUFFERS  GROWING 

PAINS  AS  MEMBERSHIP  AND  SOCIAL 

EFFICIENCY   INCREASES 

Another  phase  of  the  work  to  be  touched  upon 
was  the  missionary  work  with  the  nearby  Indian 
reservations.  The  history  of  it  was  more  or  less 
technical.  But  one  day  the  old  missionary  died. 
His  dying  prayer  was  made  as  he  was  clasping 
the  hands  of  an  Indian  friend.  Here  was  per- 
sonal element  which  could  be  used.    According 


A  News  Space  Clinic  111 

to  the  editor  the  only  trouble  with  that  story  was 
its  briefness. 

If  one  will  constantly  keep  his  eyes  open  for 
interesting  stories  he  will  find  many  ways  to  get 
his  church  into  the  public  press.  The  thieves 
who  bring  back  the  communion  silver  make  good 
copy.  The  payment  of  an  outlawed  church 
pledge  may  be  interesting.  There  are  many  fas- 
cinating stories  about  a  church  if  one  would  try 
and  get  the  newspaper  spirit  and  find  them. 

How  to  Get  the  Story  Into  the  Paper 

Now  that  you  have  the  story  how  will  you  get 
it  into  the  paper?  Frankly  the  best  way  is  to 
have  an  acquaintance  on  the  stafi  who  will  write 
it  up  for  you.  I  happened  to  mention  to  a  re- 
porter friend  of  mine  that  our  box  in  the  en- 
trance of  the  church,  which  had  been  placed 
there  for  questions  had  been  stolen.  The  box 
had  been  remodeled  from  a  contribution  box  and 
was  easily  mistaken  for  one. 

"But  they  are  welcome  to  it,"  I  added,  "may- 
be they  can  answer  some  of  the  questions  which 
I  can't." 

A  couple  of  days  later  there  was  a  little  edi- 
torial on  the  affair  showing  the  poetic  justice 


112    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

visited  upon  the  thieves.  It  was  good  pubHcity 
because  I  had  a  friend. 

If  you  can't  secure  such  acquaintance  the  next 
best  thing  is  to  prepare  the  material  or  have 
some  one  prepare  it  for  you  and  mail  it  signed 
to  the  city  editor  of  the  paper.  Be  sure  and  sign 
it  or  it  will  receive  scant  consideration.  The 
chances  are  that  it  will  not  be  used  as  it  is  sent 
in.  Possibly  it  will  not  be  used  at  all.  Maybe 
the  very  part  you  want  published  will  be  omitted. 
Editors  act  that  way  some  times  because  they 
are  human  and  have  limitations.  But  if  you 
really  have  a  story  it  may  be  used. 

Let  me  suggest  something  for  churches  which 
use  paid  display  space.  Send  a  news  item  along 
with  your  copy  for  the  advertisement.  Make 
it  as  strong  as  you  want  to  and  it  will  usually 
have  a  place  in  the  news  items.  The  paper  of 
course  must  recognize  that  courtesies  are  due 
advertisers. 

Sermons  are  not  always  news.  Sometimes 
they  are  and  some  men's  sermons  always  are. 
The  minister  who  is  constantly  quoted  in  the 
paper  may  find  many  changes  made  which  he 
feels  are  unjust.  The  remedy  for  this  is  to  have 
his  stenographer  prepare  copy  for  the  paper  and 


A  News  Space  Clinic  113 

insist  that  it  be  printed  as  it  is  given.  Not  every 
minister  can  demand  this  right.  Some  can  and 
when  they  are  prominent  enough  an  agreement 
will  be  readily  made  by  the  paper. 

Here  are,  first,  the  copy  from  a  sermon  mailed 
to  the  city  editor  on  Friday  and  the  report  of  the 
sermon  which  was  printed  the  following  Monday 
morning.  The  illustration  shows  the  typograph- 
ical error  which  is  almost  sure  to  work  into  a 
news  story  because  of  the  hasty  construction. 

{Paragraphs  from  a  sermon  preached  by  the 
Rev.  William  H,  Leach  at  the  Walden  Presby- 
terian Churchy  on  a  Sunday  evening  preceding 
Labor  Day,  entitled.  Labor  Day  and  the  World's 
Workers.) 

'The  greatest  single  domestic  problem  before 
the  federal  government  at  this  time  is  to  find 
work  for  its  unemployed.  In  Germany,  we  are 
told,  practically  every  man  is  working,  France 
reports  50,000  idle  men,  America  has  over  5 
million. 

^  "A  variety  of  causes  contribute  to  this  condi- 
tion but  there  is  a  definite  propaganda  at  work 
to  make  labor  the  goat.  Paid  advertisements 
circulated  through  farm  journals  have  led  the 
great  body  of  country  folk  to  feel  that  the  city 
worker  is  the  responsible  party.  Investigations 
such  as  that  of  the  Lockwood  committee  in 


114    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

Buffalo  places  the  responsibility  partially  upon 
some  other  classes.  The  workers  have  not  been 
the  only  profiteers  of  the  past  half  dozen  years. 

"A  railroad  workers'  strike  at  this  time  would 
be  very  unfortunate.  A  strike,  in  the  end,  is 
but  an  appeal  to  public  opinion  and  public 
opinion  at  this  time  will  not  favor  a  wide  spread 
strike.  Such  would  merely  complicate  a  very 
muddled  situation.  The  railroads  would  not  be 
seriously  embarrassed.  They  could  draw  from 
the  5,000,000  unemployed  and  there  is  not 
enough  business  to  be  cared  for  to  cause  a 
financial  loss. 

"The  brightest  feature  of  the  present  situation 
is  that  the  government  has  finally  awakened  to 
realize  that  it  has  an  unemployment  problem. 
It  is  beginning  seriously  to  attempt  to  find  some 
solution  and  Secretary  Hoover  is  the  best  man  in 
the  country  to  direct  the  work.  All  classes 
should  unite  in  attempting  to  relieve  the  situa- 
tion before  the  cold  weather  sets  in.  The  un- 
fortunate thing  is  that  partisan  zeal  has  delayed 
this  action  until  the  present  time." 


Notice  that  the 
editor  lorites  all  of 
the  head  lines. 


A  News  Space  Clinic  115 

UNEMPLOYMENT  IS 
GREATEST  PROBLEM 
GOVERNMENT  FACES 


Place  the  most 
striking  statement 
inthe  first  sentence. 
It  will  largely  de- 
termine the  editor's 
attitude  toward  it. 

The  inevitable  er- 
ror: copy  gave  5,- 
000,000,  the  re- 
porter's version 
said    "a    million." 


Lockwood       Quiz       Proves 
Workers  Not  Only  Profit- 
eers, Minister  Avers. 


BRIGHT  FLATURL,  REALIZA- 
TION  OF  NEED   FOR 
QUICK  ACTION 


"The  greatest  single  domestic  problem 
before  the  federal  government  at  this 
time  is  to  find  work  for  its  unem- 
ployed," declared  the  Rev.  William  H. 
Leach  last  evening  in  the  Walden  Pres- 
byterian church,  speaking  on  "Labor 
Day  and  the  World's  Workers." 

"In  Germany  we  are  told  practically 
every  man  is  working;  France  has  50,- 
000  men  idle,  America  has  more  than  a 
million,"  he  continued.  "There  are  a 
variety  of  causes  which  contribute  to 
the  present  situation. 

Workers  Not  Only  Profiteers. 
"Paid  advertisements  circulated 
through  farm  journals  have  led  the 
great  body  of  country  folk  to  feel  the 
city  worker  is  the  responsible  party. 
Investigations,  such  as  that  of  the 
Lockwood  committee  in  Buffalo,  place 
the    responsibility    partially    upon    some 


116    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

other   classes.     The  workers   have   not 
Notice  local  col-  been  the  only  profiteers  of  the  past  half 
oring.  dozen  years. 

"A  railroad  workers'  strike  at  this 
time  would  be  very  unfortunate.  A 
strike,  in  the  end,  is  but  an  appeal  to 
public  opinion  and  public  opinion  at 
this  time  will  not  favor  a  widespread 
strike.  Such  would  merely  complicate 
This  is  timely  a  very  muddled  situation.  The  rail- 
and  so  is  news.  roads  would  not  be  seriously  embar- 
rassed. They  could  draw  from  the 
5,000,000  unemployed  and  there  is  not 
enough  business  now  to  be  cared  for  to 
cause  a  financial  loss. 

"The  brightest  feature  of  the  situa- 
tion is  that  the  government  has  finally 
awakened  to  realize  that  it  has  an  un- 
employment problem.  It  is  beginning 
seriously  to  attempt  to  find  some  solu- 
tion, and  Secretary  Hoover  is  the  best 
man  in  the  country  to  direct  the  work. 
All  classes  should  unite  in  attempting 
to  relieve  the  situation  before  the  cold 
weather  sets  in.  The  unfortunate  thing 
is  that  partizan  zeal  has  delayed  this 
action  until  the  present  time." 


Chapter  XI:    Getting  the 

Most  From  Volunteer 

Help 

One  of  the  greatest  burdens  placed  upon  the 
minister  in  his  program  of  construction  is  the 
necessity  of  getting  his  work  accomplished  by- 
volunteer  help.  Paid  workers  are  scarce  in  the 
average  church.  The  boy  who  changes  the  sign 
board  in  front  of  the  church,  the  teacher  in  the 
Sunday  school,  the  president  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society,  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
and  many  others  of  whom  much  is  required  in 
service  are  voluntary  workers.  They  are  the 
dollar  a  year  men  of  the  church. 

Now  it  is  oftentimes  true  that  a  man  will 
give  a  greater  interest  to  the  work  of  his  church 
if  it  is  a  task  he  loves  than  he  will  to  his  business 
if  it  is  a  business  he  detests.  As  a  matter  of 
fact  the  life  work  of  many  men  is  so  distasteful 
that  the  opportunity  of  church  or  charitable 
work  may  provide  the  outlet  which  keeps  their 

117 


118     How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

life  normal.  But  it  is  also  true  that  the  average 
worker  has  a  great  deal  more  respect  for  the  ob- 
ligations upon  which  depend  his  salary  or  wages 
than  for  the  moral  and  spiritual  ones. 

During  certain  seasons  church  workers  are  apt 
to  grow  weary  in  their  interest.  It  is  common 
for  their  faithlessness  to  be  contrasted  with  the 
constancy  of  the  minister  in  a  similar  time. 

"Oh,  well,  he  is  paid  to  do  it,"  is  usually  a  suf- 
ficient explanation  in  the  mind  of  the  people. 
And  it  would  make  a  difference  with  a  great 
many  people  whether  or  not  the  obligation  they 
are  assuming  is  a  moral  obligation  or  one  upon 
which  their  livelihood  depends.  We  can  assume 
from  experiments  which  some  Sunday  schools 
have  had  with  paid  teachers  and  department 
heads  that  efficiency  increases  with  the  profes- 
sional help.  There  may  be  some  loss,  however, 
of  the  amateur  spirit  which  is  usually  an  in- 
dication of  health  in  any  enterprise. 

Varieties  of  Voluntary  Service 

There  is  almost  no  limit  to  the  kinds  of  service 
which  a  minister  has  at  hand  when  he  finds  a 
way  to  secure  and  use  volunteers.  He  will  find 
lawyers  who  will  welcome  the  opportunity  to 


Volunteer  Help  119 

talk  over  the  problems  of  the  incorporation  or 
legal  matter  of  the  church.  Mechanics  will  be 
located  who  will  be  glad  to  step  in  for  an  hour 
or  two  to  give  advice  or  work.  Clerks  will  make 
it  possible  for  him  to  get  the  best  of  service  in 
typing  and  stenographic  work.  The  minister  can 
build  a  council  for  advice  and  work  about  him 
that  is  limited  only  by  the  size  of  his  parish. 

One  of  the  compensations  of  the  ministry  is 
the  opportunity  which  it  offers  to  a  man  to  keep 
in  touch  with  so  many  phases  of  life.  He  can 
get  so  many  points  of  view  with  intimate  contact 
with  his  people.  From  the  worker  in  the  shops 
the  point  of  view  of  labor  is  presented.  In  the 
bank  he  gets  the  point  of  view  of  the  investor  of 
money.  If  he  is  a  wise  executive  he  will  not 
alone  secure  the  intimacy  for  self-culture  but 
will  bring  all  of  these  various  types  into  some 
distinct  service  of  the  church.  He  will  consider 
the  friendships  which  are  created  not  for  his 
own  enjoyment  but  for  the  service  of  the  church. 

It  is  no  mean  task  to  use  everybody  in  the 
congregation  and  still  keep  free  from  influences 
which  might  undermine  his  independence  and 
make  him  the  servant  of  a  class  or  party.  An 
aged  minister  gave  some  good  advice  to  his 


120    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

brethren  at  one  time  when  he  expressed  one  of 
his  ideals  for  his  ministry. 

"I  stand  ready  to  work  with  anybody,"  he 
said  but  continued,  "I  will  be  worked  by  none." 

A  younger  man  who  knows  considerable  of  the 
secrets  of  executive  success  illustrated  a  point  to 
the  writer  a  number  of  years  ago.  The  church 
had  a  new  changeable  letter  bulletin  board.  A 
boy  had  volunteered  to  take  care  of  it,  changing 
the  announcements  week  after  week.  So  the 
minister  went  with  him  to  show  him  how  to  do  it. 

"I  always  do  a  task  first  before  I  turn  it  over 
to  anybody.  Then  they  know  that  I  know  how 
to  do  it  and  am  willing  to  do  it  if  necessary,"  he 
explained. 

It  requires  considerable  skill  to  be  able  to 
employ  volunteer  help  and  get  big  results,  but 
the  man  who  has  learned  how  to  do  it  may  be 
sure  that  he  has  infinite  sources  of  power. 

Some  Rules 

1.  The  major  task  of  the  executive  is  to  keep 
his  workers  busy  and  happy  on  some  worthwhile 
task.  Some  churches  would  turn  this  around. 
Many  good  church  people  seem  to  think  that 
their  spiritual  duty  is  to  find  something  for  the 


Volunteer  Help  121 

minister  to  do  and  to  offer  criticism  if  he  does 
not  do  it  as  they  think  that  he  should.  There 
are  ministers  who  feel  that  they  must  be  in  every 
little  detail  of  church  work  for  fear  it  will  not 
be  done  as  it  should  be  done.  As  a  matter  of 
fact  ministers  can  do  as  much  damage  by  insist- 
ing on  being  in  every  thing  as  b}''  being  indiffer- 
ent to  the  work  of  the  various  church  societies. 

Oftentimes  it  is  better  to  let  a  work  remain 
undone  than  for  the  minister  to  do  it.  It  doesn't 
hurt  to  let  the  committee  fall  down  on  its  job 
once  in  a  while  if  the  only  alternative  is  for  the 
minister  to  do  its  work  for  it.  The  executive  will 
lose  in  the  end  if  he  makes  himself  the  work 
horse  for  the  entire  church  rather  than  the  direc- 
tor of  its  activities. 

2.  Train  the  officers  and  leaders  to  their 
responsibilities.  Make  them  fight  their  own 
battles.  Have  confidence  in  them  that  they  can 
do  it  and  give  them  every  chance.  They  will 
work  better  for  the  confidence  which  one  has  in 
them.  When  the  Sunday  school  superintendent 
has  difficulty  with  an  assistant  or  a  teacher  let 
him  handle  the  situation.  Of  course  there  will 
be  times  when  the  incompetency  is  so  great  that 
some  action  will  be  necessary  but  on  the  other 


122    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

hand  many  difficulties  are  apt  to  arise  which 
can  be  settled  without  interference  on  the  part 
of  the  minister. 

A  minister  does  not  want  to  take  too  seriously 
many  of  the  troubles  of  the  various  church  socie- 
ties. If  he  has  had  much  experience  with  human 
nature  he  soon  learns  this.  He  may  be  ap- 
proached by  a  worker  who  feels  that  he  has  a 
real  grievance.  Under  the  emotion  of  the  min- 
ute it  is  exaggerated  until  the  pastor  may  feel 
that  he  must  espouse  the  side  of  the  injured 
against  one  of  his  helpers.  If  he  resists  the  im- 
pulse perhaps  the  trouble  will  have  taken  care 
of  it  itself  in  a  few  days  and  worker  and  officer 
the  best  of  friends  again.  There  is  a  great  deal 
of  the  child  in  many  adults.  Great  injustices  of 
to-day  are  forgotten  the  next. 

The  personal  touch  between  the  superinten- 
dent of  the  school  and  his  workers  may  place 
him  in  a  much  better  position  to  know  the  char- 
acters of  those  under  him  than  the  minister  can 
know  them.  It  is  a  decidedly  poor  policy  for  a 
minister  to  encourage  any  one  to  go  over  the 
head  of  the  leader  of  the  organization  to  lodge 
complaints  with  him.  The  very  stability  of  the 
church  depends  upon  the  responsibility  of  of- 


Volunteer  Help  123 

ficers  and  leaders  being  recognized.  Let  him 
learn  the  lesson  taught  Moses  by  his  father-in- 
law  and  depend  upon  the  organized  force  of 
others  as  well  as  the  personality  of  himself. 

3.  Try  and  place  each  worker  in  a  position 
where  he  will  count  for  most  in  the  church  but  do 
not  encourage  any  one  to  take  more  work  than 
he  can  well  do.  In  other  words  don't  load  every- 
thing on  a  man  because  he  is  a  good  worker.  "If 
you  want  anything  done,  get  a  busy  man  to  do 
it,"  can  be  overdone  as  well  as  a  lot  of  other 
good  advice.  Our  churches  have  many  men  and 
women  who  are  consecrated  and  devoted  but 
who  in  their  zeal  are  trying  to  do  too  much. 
The  working  time  of  volunteer  workers  comes 
after  he  has  spent  the  day  earning  a  living.  No 
man  in  those  conditions  can  be  Sunday  school 
superintendent,  church  trustee,  president  of  the 
men's  club  and  choir  director.  And  it  is  a  poor 
executive  policy  which  will  load  more  on  any 
man  than  he  can  handle — even  if  he  does  want  it. 
It  will  be  a  happy  day  for  churches  and  church 
workers  when  the  worker  can  feel  that  he  has 
one  job  that  he  can  put  all  his  energy  in. 

Let  us  assume  that  a  young  man  becomes 
teacher  of  a  junior  class  of  boys.    He  doesn't 


124    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

know  much  about  pedagogy  because  he  has  a 
business  training;  he  doesn't  know  much  about 
the  Bible,  for  his  entire  training  in  that  respect 
has  come  through  the  Sunday  school;  and  he 
knows  little  about  the  psychology  and  social  life 
of  junior  boys,  except  what  he  has  himself  ex- 
perienced. If  that  man  can  have  a  reasonable 
amount  of  time  to  study  these  things,  to  develop 
that  class  of  boys  through  class  work,  hikes, 
camps  and  other  methods,  he  has  a  big  job.  The 
church  might  better  have  him  do  that  well  than 
to  press  additional  burdens  upon  him. 

4.  Expect  to  learn  as  you  grow  older.  Your 
workers  every  day  are  discovering  methods  and 
traits  of  people  which  may  differ  from  your  con- 
ception of  them.  Rejoice  in  their  discoveries 
with  them  and  learn  as  time  goes  by.  One  of 
the  signs  of  old  age  is  the  inability  to  keep  re- 
ceiving these  new  revelations  of  method  and 
principle.  A  minister  who  can  keep  growing 
mentally  doesn't  hit  the  dead  line  very  early. 

5.  Learn  to  appreciate  the  difference  between 
thoughtless  harping  and  constructive  criticism — 
between  harpers  and  workers.  Flies  are  not 
dragons.  The  minister  has  a  big  battle  to  wage; 
he  cannot  come  down  to  spend  time  with  need- 


Volunteer  Help  125 

less  parleys  by  thoughtless  people.  The  soldier 
who  turns  to  fight  the  dog  snapping  at  his  heels 
may  forget  the  enemy  he  started  out  to  over- 
come. But  there  are  as  well  many  people  who 
offer  constructive  criticism  and  who  are  willing 
to  become  builders.  Perhaps  the  test  of  the 
value  of  any  criticism  is  the  willingness  of  the 
critic  to  stand  responsible  for  the  program  he 
advocates. 

St.  Paul  gave  some  good  advice  to  us  when 
he  taught  about  his  own  fight.  *^So  fight  I  not 
as  beating  the  air.''  No  time  there  for  mere 
motions.  He  had  an  end  in  view.  So  also,  has 
the  executive  minister.  He  will  discriminate  and 
accept  with  thanks  the  advice  of  those  who  are 
seeking  to  build  the  church,  even  though  it  is 
contrary  to  his  own  convictions,  but  he  will  brush 
aside  the  idle  talking  of  thoughtless  people  who 
speak  without  reason. 

6.  Let  the  credit  go  where  it  belongs.  When 
any  department  of  the  church  has  a  good  year  or 
does  something  worth  while,  see  that  the  people 
responsible  for  it  get  the  credit  for  the  work. 
"Compliments  for  others,  progress  for  yourself," 
is  a  good  motto  for  the  minister.  "Saying, 
Thank  you,'  "  helps  when  one  has  done  a  good 


126    How  to  Make  the  Church  Go 

day's  work.  The  minister  of  the  church  will,  of 
course,  profit  by  the  success  of  his  church.  His 
work  is  judged  by  the  results  of  those  laboring 
under  him.  It  should  be  sufficient  for  him  that 
the  work  is  well  done.  On  no  consideration 
should  he  lower  himself  to  compete  with  one  of 
his  own  workers  or  leaders  for  the  honors. 

It  is  a  mighty  good  habit  for  the  executive  to 
learn  to  say  "we"  instead  of  "I."  Then  the 
running  of  the  church  is  "our"  task  rather  than 
"my"  task.  If  the  work  succeeds  it  is  "our" 
success.  If  it  fails  it  is  "our"  failure.  For  the 
church  is  a  corporate  body.  Scripturally  it  is  the 
body  of  Christ.  Ministers  and  people  make  up 
that  body. 

"And  whether  one  member  suffereth,  all  the 
members  suffer  with  it;  or  one  member  is  hon- 
ored, all  the  members  rejoice  with  it.  Now  ye 
are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  severally  members 
thereof.  And  God  has  set  some  in  the  church, 
first  apostles,  secondly  prophets,  thirdly  teach- 
ers, then  miracles,  then  gifts  of  healings,  helps, 
governments,  divers  kinds  of  tongues." 


Index 

A  Financial  Campaign,  93  ff. 

.,.,.  ,  .,,      Fosdick,  Dr.  Harry  Emer- 

Abihty  to  get  along  with  ^^^^. 

people,  12. 

,.  , ,        Group    plan    of    organiza- 
Bookkeepmg,  reliable,         ^^^^ 

needed,  loi.  ' 

Boiler,  Rev.  Paul  F.,  103.  j 

Budget,  preparing,  94. 

Bulletin,  weekly,  74.  Imitation,  23,  30. 

C  J 

Ceremony,  Love  of,  23,  27.  Journals,  rural  and  village, 
Church  greater  than  min-  103. 

ister,  17. 
Competition,  23,  32.  K 

Comradeship,  23,  36.  ,,      ^     ,  ^    niinted    22 

Committee,  function  of,  60;  ^^^^^^  ^'^^  ^'^  ^"°^^^'  '^• 


L 


Notification  to  Members, 

65. 

Committee  Analysis,  67.  Love  of  Christ,   23,  38. 

Committee,  who  shall  com-     Lodges,  Growth  of,  27. 

pose,  63. 
Communicant  Card,  79,  81.  M 

Compromise,  value  of,  13.  . 

Criticism,  thoughtless,  124.     Mail,  using  U.  S    75. 

McGarrah,  A.   F.,  quoted, 

F  ^9. 

McConnell,  Bishop,  quoted. 
Forces    which   move   men,         28,  33. 

20  ff.  Members  of  church,  diver- 

Fair  Play,  23,  35.  sified,  15. 

127 


128 


Index 


Money y  The  Acid  Test, 
McConaughy,   94. 

Motions  vs.  purpose,  14. 

Minister  as  an  executive, 
II. 


Ross,   Dr.  E.  A.,  quoted, 

24,  28,  34. 
Referendum,  76. 
Recognition,  desire  for,  23, 

25. 


N 

News,  what  is,  107. 
News,   how   to   get   space 
for,  III. 

O 

Office,  best  location  for,  41 ; 
one  man,  43 ;  equipment, 
44;  with  one  helper,  47. 

Offices,  Westminster  Church, 
Buffalo,  49. 

Official  Board,  Democracy 
of,  52;  notice  of  meet- 
ings, 53;  docket,  55. 


Pastoral  visitation,  78. 
People,    Taking    them    as 

they  are,  12  ff. 
Papers,  City,  107. 
Prestige,  23,  30. 
Program,  Church,  82  ff. 
Public  Opinion,  23,  33. 
Pulpit  announcements,  72. 
Psychology   of    the   execu- 


tive, 20. 


R 


Real   Estate  and   Church, 
25. 


Self  interest,  23. 
Sermons  as  news,  112. 
Service,   Desire   to  be  of, 

23,  37. 
Step  by  step  analysis,  65. 
Stunts,     contrasted     with 

program,  82. 


"Thank  you,"  saying, 
helps,  68. 

Time,  element  of  to  be  con- 
sidered, 86,  88. 

Traditional  tasks  of  the 
Minister,  11,  39. 


Van    Dyke,     Dr.    Henry, 

quoted,  35. 
Volunteer     services,     117; 

rules  for,  120  ff. 


W 

Wilson,  Lucius  E.,  quoted, 
68. 

Worker,  not  to  be  over- 
loaded, 123. 

Workers,  securing,  96. 


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